By Any Other Name
By Jodi Picoult
- Release Date: 2024-08-20
- Genre: Fiction & Literature
Description
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the co-author of Mad Honey comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.
“You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel.”—Kristin Hannah, author of The Women
Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely, in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. As Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, her best friend takes the decision out of her hands and submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym.
In 1581, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her lessons on languages, history, and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but like most women of her day, she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theatre productions in England, Emilia sees firsthand how the words of playwrights can move an audience. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage—by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work.
Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name, a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on . . . no matter the cost? This remarkable novel, rooted in primary historical sources, ensures the name Emilia Bassano will no longer be forgotten.
Reviews
By Any Other Name
5By MeeMaw#1Loved this book! Couldn’t put it down.A fascinating speculation
5By Pam-O-LandThis was a plausible story about a woman who lived at the same time as William Shakespeare, which attributes many of his plays to her as the author. at its core, it’s about women not getting enough recognition in those times for being Writers. Parallel to this story, the author writes about a young woman who is Emilia‘s descendent who is suffering the same fate in present times. It is a fascinating fiction because, the author points out that Mr. Shakespeare did not have a background in law or Italian travel or court goings on, all of which are very much part of Shakespeare’s writings. Nevertheless, there is no way to confirm any of this this. But it does make for interesting reading.I always felt Shakespeare’s life didn’t match his plays & poems!
5By DaoistDocWhat an achievement! All the echoes between the levels of this story, reflecting back and forth, and eloquently painting the feelings we women have when our inner life is completely out of synchronized with the way men dominate our world. I’ve read a lot of Picoult’s novels, and enjoyed how broad and deep her range as a writer was. This book, this story completely blew that perception up by an order of magnitude! As a literature & philosophy major, then an actress & director, ultimately an opera singer, there is so much that drew me in and kept me entranced. So many finely drawn characters of warmth and wit, contrasting with the very worst traits of the very worst men. My beloved world of theater, living out deep or playful stories that speak to our life’s experiences. I most definitely will be studying Emilia Bassano & then re-reading the Shakespeare plays and sonnets she wrote and sold to Shagsbeard. A brilliant achievement, this book! More, please, Jodi Picoult.Interesting
5By Wwer4321What a clever theory of explaining the history of Shakespeare, and a wonderful story about a strong womanAnother great one by Jodi Picoult
4By Bethany Beach GirlThis book was hard to get into in the beginning. But as the story unraveled, it became one of those books you can’t put down. The idea that Shakespeare didn’t write any of the material that we have been taught was disconcerting at first. But as the case was laid out it appears that it may indeed be true. Take time with this book to think about what is transpiring in the book. Enjoy!My least favorite Picuolt
3By 55 HicksOverly long. It read more like a soap opera. Disappointed.Respectfully not enjoyable
2By TKScrabbleI respect and admire the convincing research the author did for this book. She clearly understands Shakespeare and all the doubts about who he was. She created a story that was truly amazing, but it was just too long and laborious. If she had cut out about 500 pages it would have been enjoyable.Though Shall Know My Name
5By Amygamer56This book was so interesting! I’m hoping this is a story of fact and not fiction! I loved the 2 related women!!Wow
5By CatCaryn69This was so wonderful and engaging.Wow
5By Placid 1Emilia’s story feels so real, so touching, thanks to Jodi Picoult’s brilliant storytelling. Wonderful!!Talking about reinventing oneself
1By Kittyusa2015Jodi Picoult is due for a reinvention as well.Fascinating
5By 123ILU123I am not normally a Jodi Picoult reader, but this blew me away. I can tell how much love she has for her subject, and the way she spun the few sources that exist into such an amazing story is truly a feat. And the miniature afterward — wow! 😍Love, love, love
5By Christi the greatAs always another great novel from Jodi. She never fails to amazing me with her writing.Couldn’t finish it
2By kaykaybean13I literally couldn’t finish it: I am a fan of the authors but this publication just wasn’t for me/Excellent
5By tyraazI felt it started out a little slow but then became a page turner. Really enjoyed reading about Emilia and Melina’s lives.A waste of 6 weeks
1By Jess JessieThis book was so incredibly boring that it kept putting me to sleep literally. Very disappointing.Cheers to Jodi and Emilia
5By quadsquadnanaThank you for opening my mind and making me a believer. Could not put this book down; was sad when it endedRiveting
5By Roberta8924It’s a woman’s story, it’s a survivor’s story, it’s an historical story. Each chapter is riveting and makes you just want to get to the next chapter. It’s very well written and well researched. I’ve never read Jodi Picoult, but the historical aspect attracted me, and I now want to read another JP book, preferably with a historical bend.Big disappointment!
1By tlc1216I have always been a fan of Jodi Piccoult. So disappointed with this one, as I was excited to see she had published another book. Usually her books are page turners and all I wanted to do was close this book!
