Laertes

By Carly Stevens,

Book cover of Laertes

Book description

Set in 1920s Europe, this poignant dark academia novel sheds new light on Shakespeare's masterpiece, finally allowing Laertes to tell his side of the story.



Laertes Belleforest lives two lives: a wild, passionate one with his best friends studying Classics in Paris, and a stifling existence in the Danish court…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Laertes as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Laertes is another Hamlet retelling, but this time from Laertes' perspective. I had the pleasure of being a beta reader on this project, and it gripped me from the start.

Set in the 1920s, this novel follows Laertes and his family's struggles throughout the play. It also introduces several independent characters that add greatly to Laertes' character. Hamlet lovers will find Easter eggs harkening back to the play, as well as snippets of dialogue.

The ending is bittersweet and beautiful. Carly is an incredibly talented writer, and she shines in this retelling.

Want books like Laertes?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 40 books like Laertes.

Browse books like Laertes

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in William Shakespeare, New York City, and the United Kingdom?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about William Shakespeare, New York City, and the United Kingdom.

William Shakespeare Explore 178 books about William Shakespeare
New York City Explore 1,004 books about New York City
The United Kingdom Explore 564 books about the United Kingdom