Novels, Shakespeare, films and Oscars

At the height of the film awards season one question is - what would the movie industry do without the creative genius of novelists and others, not forgetting the great bard himself?

I've recently finished reading "Guilty by Definition," the new novel written by Susie Dent (1).  It marks the author's welcome debut into fiction following an illustrious 30-year career explaining the nuances of words and language.  This includes her high profile role as resident word expert on Channel 4's Countdown programme.

To experience the author's expertise and seamless ability switching from non-fiction with her gripping story about etymologists and lexicologists using their teamworking skills to unravel crime was, perversely, a joy to discover.  Etymology is the scientific study of the origin history and structure of words, analysing how meanings and forms change over time; and lexicology focuses on the vocabulary, structure, and usage of words, analysing formation, origin, meaning and how words relate to each other. 

Suffice it to add, with no plot spoilers, that the long deceased bard of Stratford (no mean wordsmith himself) plays a key role in the engrossing drama. Family relations more accurately.

It's impossible to avoid the coincidence between this novel and the blockbuster movie "Hamnet."  Awards achieved include best picture and best actress at the Golden Globes and similarly at the British Academy Film Awards, as well as nominations for eight Oscars.  These include best picture, best director and best actress.  

Hamnet the movie is based on the bestseller novel written by Irish author Maggie O'Farrell (2).  Her book, like that of Susie Dent, depends crucially on a connection with William Shakespeare.  Both stories, in their own ways, connect by serendipity to a different one of the Stratford bard's family relations.

Given the resounding success of Hamnet the movie, opportunities may appear for promoting Susie Dent's book further.  For instance, what are the chances of Guilty by Definition being adapted to make a grand appearance on our cinema screens?   And if so, why not follow Hamnet's successful employment of Irish acting talent to articulate the bardic message?  A coincidence of storyline might again also suit with the addition of Irish acting story-tellers.

In saying this, I'm aware of another coincidence (admittedly non-Shakespearean) raised last month (3) between Robert Harris's excellent novel "Precipice" about releasing state secrets in 1914 and the political impacts in the U.K. of America's recent release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.  Harris's 2016 novel "Conclave" had also been adapted to become an award-winning movie in 2024.

A further dose of intrigue in the close relationships between film scripts and novels comes from a revelation this month by a leading Irish author and Booker prize-winner John Banville.  His example is all about this process done the other way around.  He describes the detail behind the writing of his latest novel (4).  More specifically, the author explains the discussions that led to his earlier writing some years ago of a film script which, more recently, he has adapted (rather than see his work waste) to become a crime novel, Christine Falls. 

More generally, expanding on growing Irish success in recent years, the continuing influence of Ireland in the Oscars merits special mention.  On the eve of the 2026 ceremonial, media attention has been sharply focused on the Californian event both in Britain (5) and in Ireland (6) - evidence of constructive collaboration across the board.  For example, 

• Hamnet's 8 nominations include Jessie Buckley for best actress and Paul Mescal for best supporting actor, as well as the book's author Coleraine's Maggie O'Farrell with her nomination for adapted screenplay;  
• Richard Baneham from Dublin is nominated again following Oscar awards at two previous ceremonies, on this occasion for his visual effects on Avatar: Fire and Ash; 
• John Kelly's comedy drama The Retirement Plan is nominated for best animated short film (7); 
• Element Pictures founded in 2001, has had 5 films nominated across 30 Academy Awards with 6 wins. This year Element are nominated in four categories for work on Bugonia, nominated for best film, starring Emma Stone; and 
• Wild Atlantic Pictures, another Irish film production company, are nominated for original screenplay and for best actor (nominee Ethan Hawke, with Irish actor Andrew Scott a central cast member), WAP being co-producers of the American comedy-drama Blue Moon (8). 

And the Oscars go to Jessie Buckley for best actress and to Richard Baneham for best visual efffects.  Congratulations to all of the winners and to all of the nominees (9).

© Michael McSorley 2026

References

1. "Guilty by Definition" Susie Dent Zaffre paperback edition 2025 UK

2. "Hamnet" Maggie O'Farrell Tinder Press 2020 paperback

3. https://michaelmcsorleycurrent.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-leaking-of-uk-state-secrets.html

4. Irish Times 7 March 2026 Weekend Essay by John Banville  I Decided to Invent a Pseudonym.  "Christine Falls" John Banville Faber and Faber One Dublin One Book choice for 2026  www.dublincityofliterature.ie

5. BBC News 15 March 2026 Oscars 2026 Celebrities arrive on the red carpet 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c62gjznlr0jt

6.  RTE News 15 March 2026 Glitz and glam as stars walk the red carpet 

https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2026/0315/1563595-glitz-and-glam-as-stars-walk-the-oscars-red-carpet/

7. BBC News NI Matt Fox 15 March 2026 Meet Ray - he only wanted to retire, now he might win an Oscar  

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr459z25reko?app-referrer=deep-link

8. The Guardian Review Peter Bradshaw 16 Oct 2025  Ethan Hawke is terrific in Richard Linklater’s bitter Broadway breakup drama  https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oct/16/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke-richard-linklater-broadway-hart-rodgers?CMP=share_btn_url

9. RTE News Oscars 16 March 2026 - the complete list of winners 

https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2026/0315/1563608-oscars-2026-the-complete-list-of-winners/