Maggie O'Farrell on Irish famine novel 'Land' and Bafta in basement

Maggie O'Farrell, the celebrated author of 'Hamnet', has released a new novel called 'Land', which takes place during Ireland's Great Famine. The story centers on an Irish cartographer employed by the British army in the mid-1800s. O'Farrell drew inspiration from her great-great-grandfather, who created Ordnance Survey maps for the British starting in 1848. She considers 'Land' her most politically charged work, tackling themes of colonization and destruction. Scheduled for publication on 2 June 2026, the book has been picked up by the producer of 'Hamnet', with O'Farrell set to pen the screenplay. Recently, she received a Bafta and a Golden Globe for her film adaptation of 'Hamnet', which she humorously stores in her basement, describing the awards circuit as 'peculiar' and 'very surreal'. O'Farrell also reflects on her Irish heritage and the anti-Irish sentiment she has encountered in Britain, expressing her worries about increasing racism. She writes in her garden studio in Edinburgh, utilizing vintage fountain pens.