By Any Other Name

I loved this book – I loved it so much that I didn’t mind being beaten about the head and shoulders by Ms. Picoult’s theory of Shakespeare and whether he is deserving of the all the literary accolades passed down through the centuries. Picoult has researched, quoted, contradicted and plotted as she puts forth a very convincing argument. Whether it has traction or not does not take away from this superb book. Clever, well written, witty dialog, quips and a potential resurrection of an historical erasure are well contained, hidden and at the forefront throughout the many pages of this book.
Picoult’s use of a dual timeline was effective historically but less so emotionally. I was totally involved in the past with Emilia Bassano, show more her trials, tribulations and all the unfairness of a woman’s life in 16th Century England. The stumbles and problems of would-be playwright Melina Green in the current timeline were aggravating, annoying and had me thinking that someone should give her a spine, a little logic and compassion – it might have gone a long way in making her more sympathetic. This was not enough of a detraction to change my mind about the ultimate quality and significance of this book.
Many thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy. show less

Oh my! This was such an informative and provocative tale exploring the age old debate, "Did William Shakespeare truly write everything attributed to him? If not, then who was writing under his name?" This dual time-line speaks to the challenges and frustrations of 16th century female writers and the ongoing struggles for the female and marginalized writers of today. Through extensive research, Ms. Picoult has crafted a most plausible story of the life of historically known Emilia Bassano, England's first published poetess. She juxtaposes against that the life of Melina Green, the fictional descendant of Emilia and who is a present-day playwright experiencing many of the same challenges. Both of these women are bright, ambitious, and show more courageous as they yearn to be heard at a time when no one appears to be listening.

Author Jodi Picoult is a highly regarded writer and justly so. Her prose is exquisitely crafted, the characters are well developed, and the mise en scène -richly and beautifully delivered. Her female characters are strong yet their stories draw on the reader's own empathic feelings. Through the writing, one is easily transported to the streets of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and to the noisy streets of a highly active New York City, which never sleeps. A few of the 16th century literary greats are richly brought to life in this story as Ms. Picoult brings a plausible explanation of who's who and who's doing what in the literary circles of 16th century London. All in all, this was one of the best stories I have read this year and I highly recommend it to those readers generally interested in literature and especially interested in the theatrical worlds of then and now.

[Triggers worth noting: Although tastefully presented, there are scenes of abuse against women and children, among other adult themes.]

I am grateful to Ballantine Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected proof of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: ‎ August 20, 2024
Number of Pages: 544
ISBN: 978-0593497210 show less

“Life as a woman is not without risks.”

Where do I even start? The characters? They were absolutely phenomenal and engaging. Emilia perhaps more than anyone. Her story caused me to feel so many things all at once. I was outraged, laughed, was happy for her, was utterly gutted, and completely destroyed in the span of a book. She is perhaps one of the most real characters I've read in a long time. Melina... she was so like her ancestor in so many ways and caused me to feel a variety of emotions. However, you can tell that Jodi poured her heart and soul into Emilia's character and she is supposed to be the one who shines. The writing? Engrossing, enthralling, enchanting... everything you could ever hope for. The story? Full of so many show more layers and emotions it was hard to put down. The various ways that Jodi was able to showcase the struggles of being a woman in a male dominated world never cease to amaze.
I cannot remember the last time I was so engaged in a character... I think knowing that Emilia Bassano was a real person only makes the story that much more. I love how much thought went into creating this life and motivations for a character who is almost completely silenced by history. I also love when books challenge the male dominated narrative. I mean we see some good evidence, presented by Melina, clearly from Jodi's research as to why Shakespeare wasn't the true author of his plays. I love when a book makes you think like this. I love challenging the narrative and giving voice to the women lost in history. I think maybe that's why this has quickly become one of my favorites that Jodi has written. I truly loved how much this book made me feel. It was one of those stories I could get easily lost in. I loved so much about this book. You can tell this was the story Jodi always wanted to tell. show less

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult is a captivating novel that intricately weaves together the stories of two women separated by centuries but united by their shared struggles and passions. The novel follows modern-day playwright Melina Green, who faces the challenge of getting her work recognized in a male-dominated theater world, and Emilia Bassano, a 16th-century woman who secretly writes plays under the name of William Shakespeare.

Picoult masterfully balances the dual timelines, creating a rich narrative that explores the timeless themes of ambition, courage, and the cost of pursuing one’s dreams. Melina’s journey reflects the ongoing fight for gender equality in the arts, while Emilia’s story sheds light on the forgotten show more contributions of women in history. The novel’s exploration of identity and authorship is both thought-provoking and deeply resonant.

Rooted in historical sources, By Any Other Name brings Emilia Bassano’s story to life, ensuring she is no longer a forgotten figure. Picoult’s portrayal of both women’s determination to have their voices heard, despite the societal constraints of their times, makes this novel a powerful and inspiring read. It’s a must for anyone who loves historical fiction that challenges the status quo and celebrates the resilience of women artists. show less

This is a bit of a departure from the stories Jodi Picoult typically writes, as there is no jaw-dropping twist at the end. However, it is equally good and powerful as her other novels.
Told in two timelines, the story is about 2 female playwrights. Today, a critic tells Melina Green that her work is ordinary. So, when she writes a play based on her ancestor, Emilia Bassano, her male friend submits it using the name Mel Green, and her work is thought to be that of a man. In 1581, Emilia longs to be a writer, and not just a woman without a voice. She is forced to be a mistress to an elderly man, finds love with a young lord, and is married to an abusive man. All the while, she is secretly writing her thoughts about her love, and selling show more them to Shakespeare to ensure that her work is shown.
The primary story is Emilia's, and it is a startling look at how women were silenced. There is a lot of speculation about the authenticity of William Shakespeare, and I would love to believe that it was Emilia's work that he used.
I loved it. show less

4.5 / 5 ⭐️

(TLDR shakespeare was a woman, and this book basically proves it)

the question of shakespeare’s authorship has always intrigued me, so i was never going to be a hard sell. i mean, you’re telling me a MAN wrote that level of protofeminism? without collaboration, without documentation? nahhhhh. i’ve always been sus of shakespeare, and this book threw me right over the edge of that cliff.

the narrative follows two women - emilia bassano (a real historical figure) and melina green, her fictional descendant. melina is a playwright who discovers her muse in emilia’s story, and so writes a play called “by any other name,” exploring her ancestor’s potential authorship of the shakespeare works.

now, this is my first show more PICOULT - i didn’t know what level of quality to expect from this author, but this rocked my worlddd. first of all: the historical pieces, though occasionally long winded, were extremely well done. it felt very authentic, very grounded, and i could tell PICOULT did her research. second of all: suuuuuch complex and dynamic characters. every character was a joy to read, but especially the mains. this is such a woman-centered story, and it thrills me that i’m alive at a time when this is widely available reading material.

i think it’s easy to forget the shoulders that we stand on as women - our history is DARK. for centuries, women have been forgotten, abused, and buried by men. the buying and selling of women’s bodies, the manipulation of their agency, the casual hatred with which men treated them… i think it’s really important that we never forget those things. that we remember, especially now, that women couldn’t even have their own bank accounts until the 70s. for so long, women couldn’t vote, couldn’t write, couldn’t be remembered. i really appreciated this book for bringing that historical context back to me - i don’t want to forget the women who paved the way!!

as for the question of authorship: i believe shakespeare was a literary collective, and i have zero doubt that there were women involved. this book thoroughly convinced me that emilia bassano was one of them.

this is a read that will stick with me and potentially change the way i interact with shakespeare forever! i loved it. 4.5 ⭐️ show less

This is a story about Melina Green, present day, and her ancestor Emilia Bassano, Elizabethan period. They are both playwrights. They both have difficulties getting published, and they both resort to unorthodox methods to get their creations to public viewing. The author goes into great detail about Emilia’s life when she was forced into being a courtesan at a tender young age. Too much detail. She also goes to great lengths to disprove the validity that Shakespeare wrote the works attributed to him. This book seems less like a novel and more like a treatise for the author to prove a theory she holds in high regard. If you believe as the author does, that Shakespeare was an actor who bought the works of others and published them under show more his own name, you might possibly enjoy this farfetched novel, despite the details of Emilia’s life as a courtesan. But my recommendation is to skip this author’s rendition of her hobbyhorse theory and find another book. There are much better ones to read. show less