Gerutha loves Feng

Gertrude and Claudius tells the love story of Hamlet's mother with his uncle (her brother-in-law) before the events of Shakespeare's play. In three parts, Updike uses different spellings for the character names in each, strengthening the historic detail of the book, and marking how this tale gradually changes from one about near-pagan Danes to the well-known play, told through an Anglo-Christian perspective.

Gertrude (Gerutha in the first part) is bargained off in marriage to Horwendil by her father, all for her own good. Naturally passive (although occasionally feeling the stirring of warrior blood), Gerutha acquiesces, and makes the best of it. She does grow to have feelings for her carefully correct husband, but it is his brother Feng that stirs her love.
He, however, is usually away in Byzantium, thus their passion is on slow simmer for nearly thirty decades.

Once they overcome their religion and societal restraints to allow their relationship to flourish, events begin to rapidly escalate. Their idyll is discovered, Feng feels forced to protect not only himself but his love and their conspirator Polonius, and the king must die.

Hamlet himself rarely makes an appearance in this novel, as is well. He is discussed by his parents, his uncle, Ophelia, and Polonius. His strengths and weakness (primarily the latter) are analyzed, creating a creepy foreshadowing for the events that follow. Interestingly, Updike gives Ophelia a voice in this book, and a welcome one it is as well. Her character is drawn in deft strokes, as is her history, both of which serve to explain her death when it arrives.

Recommended for any Updike or Shakespeare fans.