I feel like the head exploding emoji is an appropriate response to how I feel finishing this book.
I have never questioned Shakespeare until this book and now I can't help but absolutely agree that the events of this book (at least the embellished ones of Emilia) are likely the true ones.
This book (like many of Jodi's others) highlights so many important topics relevant to our current society (and also past society). But not only that, I also felt so incredibly emotionally connected to the characters - especially Emilia - and I felt like my heart was being stomped on multiple times. This book doesn't come with triggers, but there are several that should be mentioned if you want to proceed with reading - domestic violence and the loss of a child are the two primary ones. Regardless I would still highly recommend reading. Going in, I was unsure as I'd heard it was quite unlike Jodi's previous books (of which I've read most) and this is true however her incredible writing is still very much present.

Well well well - yet another man taking credit for a women's work? What do we all think? This does present a pretty compelling argument that this is in fact the case - that the famous, maybe most famous Playwriter in history, Shakespeare, is in fact a fraud who used other people's works as his own.

Set in two timelines - this is the story of two women writers who pretend to be something they're not, to get their work published. It is a big eff you to the patriarchy and to sexism in publishing. I found the main concept (Shakespeare being a front) super interesting and loved the parts where these facts were being presented by Melina in the modern day timeline. Made me want to go and google everything. I found Emilia's parts heartbreaking, but I loved how smart and determined she was despite the ongoing challenges life threw at her. Very glad I didn't live back in the days when white men controlled everything, even women's bodies... oh wait...

I did really love this, but there was also something that I can't quite put my finger on that made me not love it as much as I thought I would, or wanted to. Maybe it was a little bit too long and got a little lost in the fiction at times? I also felt it had been done before with Wifedom - although you know what - the more the merrier - let's keep calling out mediocre men who keep taking credit for outstanding women.

In typical Picoult style, meticulously researched, and one that makes you think long after you turn the last page.

If Jodi Picoult writes it, I will absolutely be reading it! Jodi Picoult's stories are all fantastic, and you can tell the amount of time that is put into thoroughly researching and considering each book.

This story explores the consideration that Shakespeare is not the true author of his works. While the concept is non-fiction, the story is written in a fictitious way with plenty of evidence and facts woven throughout. The book acts as a convincing case that Emilia Bassano is the true author, and explores the perception of women, their roles and people's expectations.

The different timelines were very well written, and Jodi Picoult manages to tell a very convincing tale through historical fiction. I definitely recommend this book.

‘What do you say when you know your words will be your last? I was here. I mattered.’

I have long wanted to read a Jodi Picoult book and if By Any Other Name is an indication of her writing …. boy have I been missing out! What a read! This will easily be one of my top picks for 2024! Her blend of historical fiction and powerful feminism in both timelines was mind blowing.

‘There was such magic in language. It could bring you to tears, pull you to the edge of your seat, make you sigh with relief. It could draw you out of the world when you needed to escape, and at other times hold up a looking glass to the world as it was.’

This is the story of two talented women from different eras but who face the same prejudices - they both hide behind someone else’s name in order for their work to be recognised. Yes, you read correctly, seemingly so little change from Elizabethan days to today - the same obstacles presenting themselves. The issues women face both then and now is front and centre in this amazing book. I admired both narratives.

‘Emilia Bassano deserved to be more than a footnote in someone else’s history.’

Then there are the issues concerning William Shakespeare and whether he was capable (there is considerable evidence to suggest otherwise) of being the author of all his written works. The fact that in Jodi’s Endnotes, she predicts that she will receive much hate mail regarding this book is incredulous. ‘For years we have been given a version of Shakespeare’s work through a patriarchal lens and it’s hard to unlearn that.’ “History,” she said, “is written by those in power … and when it came to history, absence of evidence was not evidence of absence.’

“I cannot write a play, Kit.” “You cannot put your name on a play. That is not the same thing.”

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s a great story, a long one but well worth the journey if you open both your heart and mind. It is so well constructed, it took my breath away.

“Even the villains are the heroes of their own stories,” she said. “I do not know what that means,” Henry said, frowning. Emilia turned to him. “It means there is nothing either good or bad,” she said softly. “But thinking makes it so.”








This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

I have read and loved so many books by Jodi in the past. Usually they have me racing through the pages towards the end, and then debating whether to slow down to savour the end or continue the race to find what happens. Unfortunately, for me this book fell short in several ways although i’m finding it hard to pinpoint exactly why this happened. While the character of Emilia captivated me, I failed to feel engaged in the whole story in the way I have become familiar with when reading Jodi’s books.

Jodi is such a masterful storyteller and the research done for this book was obviously extensive. The backgrounds of both main characters were fascinating, and also sad in that despite the massive gap in time both women had to lie, scheme and hide the truth of who they were because of being women. This often included being unable to reveal their true talent which has been and continues to sadly be true for so many people.

The idea of Shakespeare not being the author of his work is one that was entrancing. A thought did cross my mind briefly that I wonder if anyone will ever write a book many centuries in the future claiming someone else was the author of Jodi’s books in a bizarre twist, and how they would write this.

Despite not knowing much about the time Emilia lived in, I found her timeline seemed richer and more alive than that of Melina which may have been part of my struggle. It felt like each time I was becoming engrossed in the book I had to stop and go back to Melina’s story which at times felt like an interruption. I think this can often happen when there are multiple stories being told especially when you prefer one character or time to the other. I still look forward to reading more from Jodi in the future and am thankful for how real her characters (main and side characters) always feel, whether they are likeable or not. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this in exchange for my review.

I haven’t read a Jodi Picoult book for ages and so I was very excited to read this one. It took me by surprise though as it wasn’t the same type of book as the previous ones that I have read. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it though! This was the story of Mel (in the current time) who is distantly related to Emilia who lived at the time of Shakespeare. The story portrays Shakespeare in a way that I hadn’t realised was a possibility in that Shakespeare had other people write the works that he then put his name to. Emilia was one of these people. It’s a story about women having to stand up for themselves in Shakespeare’s time and demonstrating how little that has changed in our modern times. It has re-inspired me to get out my other Jodi Picoult books and read them again. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book reads quite differently to Jodi's past novels, potentially as it is written on a lot of factual research which she details at the end of the book.
The storyline follows two time periods. The present in which Melina Green is wanting to be a playwright and is shredded by an upcoming theatre critic and shunned by her thesis supervisor at University. The other timeline follows Emilia Bassano, who in the late 1500's was given as a courtesan (at the ripe old age of 13) to the then Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth. Emilia came from a family of Italian musicians, and although astute with music, Emilia was at heart a storyteller.
The historical part of the book details the life of Emilia and who was an intellect (something frowned upon in women) who was forced to sell her poems and plays through a front man, an actor she was introduced to called William Shakespeare.
The book does quite a compelling job of convincing readers that there was a strong female voice behind the words attributed to Shakespeare and it will be interesting to see if more evidence comes to light that this is in fact true.
A very thought provoking story that will no doubt be popped into the fiction sections of stores but may well in fact be the true story of an invisible female of the 1500's.
Thank you Netgalley and Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult is an extraordinary story.

The publisher’s blurb is an excellent introduction:

“Two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare's plays—are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.
In 1581, Emilia Bassano—like most young women of her day—is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain's mistress, she has access to all theatre in England, and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly. And yet, creating some of the world's greatest dramatic masterpieces comes at great cost: by paying a man for the use of his name, she will write her own out of history.
In the present, playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. Although the challenges are different four hundred years later, the playing field is still not level for women in theatre. Would Melina—like Emilia—be willing to forfeit her credit as author, just for a chance to see her work performed?”

The research that Jodi Picoult has undertaken to write an incredibly detailed historical perspective of Emilia Bassano is amazing. While this story is presented as fiction it is based on a lot of facts that the author has uncovered and is still pursuing. What a challenge! Jodi Picoult is seriously questioning that William Shakespeare wrote all that has been attributed to him. How will this be received by the literary world??? I look forward to following the repercussions of this ‘fictional’ story that is based on so much fact.

This is a complicated issue and so the story is not a quick read but one that reflects detailed research of the period as well as the culture of 16th Century society.
The present day character, Melina Green, faces quite similar challenges. This aspect certainly gives food for thought.

Highly recommended read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from Allan & Unwin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#ByAnyOtherName #NetGalley

As a fan of Jodi Picoult I found this one to be quite different from her other books. Set in two separate timelines we follow Emilia a young woman living in the Shakespearean era. It follows the struggles of being a woman within this era and her struggles as a young lady who would love to write plays in a time when it is seen as unseemly.
I have to say this one wasn’t one of my favourite Jodi Picoult books, I found it to be a little long and slow at times. I did however enjoy the theme of the book. I think if you have an interest in Shakespeare and like historical novels that deal with the struggles of women back in that era and today within male dominated careers thus would be one to consider.

I love Jodi Picoult books but unfortunately this fell flat for me! It was so unlike her usual style. I was a lot more invested in the present day timeline, the past timeline dragged.

It felt very long, and was very slow paced. I appreciate the premise however didn’t find the execution engaging.

As always, looking forward to seeing what Picoult does next.

Thankyou to NetGalley and Allen and Unwin for the advanced copy.

“It wasn’t until she took a playwriting course that she realized the only thing mightier than giving a stellar performance was being the person who crafted the words an actor spoke.”

By Any Other Name is the twenty-ninth novel by award-winning, best-selling American author, Jodi Picoult. At Bard College, Melina Green’s professor encourages her to enter into a collegiate playwriting competition something that will make her feel vulnerable. But the savaging meted out by the young NYT theatre critic judging the entrants ruins her prospects and dampens her creative enthusiasm.

Ten years on, she’s had only minor successes when her dad mentions an ancestor on her mother’s side who lived in Elizabethan times and was the first published female poet in England. Melina is intrigued and goes to her favourite place, the New York Public Library’s Manuscripts and Archives room, to research this fascinating woman.

The more she reads, the more certain she becomes that Emilia Bassano was not only the first published female poet in England. She might very well have been a playwright, too. The playwright, actually. The most famous one in history. It’s the inspiration and impetus she needs to write a new play, which she titles By Any Other Name.

Emilia Bassano was born into a family of court musicians who had emigrated from Italy. After her father dies, her mother goes into service elsewhere, and her patroness’s new husband is heading to Holland, Emilia is traded to a peer by her cousin Jeronimo for his family’s job security. She has lessons with a courtesan and, at age thirteen, Emilia becomes mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, Henry Carey.

But she had been educated whilst with her patroness, and had the opportunity to travel. In the Lord Chamberlain’s study, she gets to see the “foul” copies of plays before they are approved and, attending a performance, she marvels that: “A playwright had taken a fresh, blank sheet of paper and from it, had made three thousand strangers feel.” She begins to write.

But women aren’t permitted to write plays, so eventually she acquiesces to her friend Christopher Marlowe’s suggestion to sell her work to a male playwright. He tells her “It does not matter if they know you. It only matters that they heard what you had to say.”

Soon enough, “She believed words written by a woman about women might allow audiences to see them more fully, to realize that they had thoughts and dreams and worth. The fact that she had to borrow a man’s name to do that was a small price to pay.”

Melina faces almost the same hurdle: even in the twenty-first Century, the work of a female playwright is much less likely to be chosen, especially by white male producers. So her best friend and roommate, Andre Washington, black, gay, also unpublished, submits her work under the gender-ambiguous Mel Green. When it is lauded by the same critic who savaged her earlier work, and fast-tracked for performance, it presents them with a dilemma: be honest about the authorship, or be produced?

Picoult gives the reader a fabulous collision of reality and imagination, interweaving fact with fiction, all of it rich in historical detail, and featuring a marvellously diverse cast of real people and fictional characters. The depth of her research is apparent on every page and her descriptive prose is very evocative.

She tells her story through three narrators and a dual timeline, adding excerpts from the rehearsal script of Melina’s play. Her characters are multi-dimensional and easily attract the reader’s care and concern for their fate. There are parallels and echoes between the two stories, and quite a few twists to make it even more interesting.

She gives her characters wise words and insightful observations: “Love was a religion all its own, one that could damn you or save you or turn you into a zealot” and “When the only stories told are by straight white men, it becomes the norm. People assume that the only stories that will turn a profit are stories about that particular experience— when in fact there are whole untapped audiences who would love to see their lives replicated on a stage” are examples.

The premise that Emilia Bassano, a brilliant woman who had been silenced by societal restrictions, might have written some of Shakespeare’s plays, is convincingly presented, as is the assertion that little has changed in the world of theatre for female playwrights (and those of other marginalised groups). Picoult’s work is always topical and thought-provoking, and this one is sure to polarise readers.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.

Jodi Picoult is an instant read author for me and I was so excited to read By any other name. I found this very different to Jodi's other books and sadly missed the mark for me.

By any other name is extremely well written and the research that clealy went into this book was sensational.

For me, i quickly discovered that historical fiction just isn't for me. I found it slow in parts and at times suffered information overload impacting my ability to connect and build a relationship to the characters.

I tried hard to immerse myself into this book and follow the dual timeline story of Melina based it a contemporary setting and Emilia set in 1600s but I just couldn't connect. Despite the timelines working well i found the extremely long chapters were a no for me and at times putting me off completely, I really had to force myself to pick it back up.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for this book from Allen & Unwin.
I really enjoyed this book. Though there were a few cliches in regards to the main character Melina’s fiesty nature and her relationship with her friend Andre, she was written with such beautiful depth. Jodie Picoult has delivered another wonderful novel. The writing is so lyrical, though if you’re not a Shakespeare fan, you may find it a little much, I really loved some some of the imagery and descriptive sections. The dance between the two time periods was also really well done, she created two very vivid worlds that were entwined so carefully.
I am so thankful I got the opportunity to read this.

3.5 stars and I'm finding this one a bit tricky to review. Set in dual timelines, the 1500s and then present times, we see the life for two women playwrights, both women being related.
I was interested in reading about the Elizabethan times after watching my son perform in a play this year about Henry VIII and his six wives. I did find this timeline fascinating and it was obviously very well researched. I did however find the chapters a bit long to keep my attention and often found myself distracted. This timeline starts when Emilia Bassano is 13 and continues into her 70s and I did get a good appreciation for the lives of women in this time.
Melinda's chapters in the present time were shorter and more engaging for me, we find 500 or so years later and Melinda is still struggling getting her name out there as a female playwright - seems not much has changed for women. I really enjoyed Melinda's relationship with her best friend Andre and what he does for her. He has his own struggles being a black, gay man.
I enjoyed how the timelines connected with Melinda writing her play about Emilia's life and how she was a ghost writer for Shakespeare. The book was clever and well written.
For me it was just a bit long to keep my attention and as poetry, sonets and Shakespeare aren't really my thing it took me a while to finish.
Definitely a great topic and still worth the read.

“There was once a girl who became invisible so that her words might not be”
By any other name explores the possibility that Shakespeare was not a writer, rather that a young woman named Emilia Bassano was the author of the plays and sonnets credited to him. In this story Emilia sells her works to Shakespeare knowing it is the only way to have her voice heard, even though the praise will go to a man.
This book is spilt into two timelines, one 1500’s England during the time of Shakespeare and the other in present day New York. The two timelines are threaded together by family history and a common theme of women’s voices not being heard in theatre. In the present day Emilia’s descendant Melina is also an aspiring playwright and is facing the same hurdles and challenges as Emilia did. This is a well written and throughly researched book. What let it down was the length and pace of the chapters set in the 1500s, I feel they could have been broken up more with present day chapters providing more character development for those in Melina’s timeline.

While Jodi's books can be hit and miss with me I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I love historical fiction, especially when based around real people. I was fascinated by the two time-lines and how cleverly she has entwined the characters lives. While reading I often found myself looking up Shakespeare's plays when Emilia would say something that triggered a memory. Excellent!

What if Shakespeare’s plays weren’t written by the bard? A mix of Yellowface x Shakespeare x historical fiction, By Any Other Name follows two timelines and characters: Melina Green, an aspiring playwright in modern day New York, and her ancestor Emilia Bassano, a Jewish woman from a family of Italian musicians living in Elizabethan London. Both women are talented writers, but must use another’s name to get their work published. This book explores what it means to be a woman, both in the past and the present. Whose voices get to be heard, should women’s voices be uplifted at the expense of other minority groups and is the work or the author more important?

I was an avid Jodi Picoult reader in the 2000s, but for some reason haven't picked up one of her books for a long time. As a lover of historical fiction, I was so excited to be accepted for this ARC! I really enjoyed this book: the historical setting (one of my favourite periods to read about), the feminism, the Shakespeare easter eggs throughout. It was impeccably researched and very well written. It is proclaimed as Picoult’s most controversial novel yet - claiming Shakespeare did not write his works causes a lot of heated discussion. As a fan of Shakespeare’s works, I do find myself swayed by the arguments put forward in this book! The modern aspects of authorship and minorities was very reminiscent of Yellowface which I think readers will either love or hate.

If you like historical fiction, books about books or books with strong female characters fighting for equality, this book is for you!

Told in dual timelines this book follows Emilia Bassano and her descendant Melina Green. Both women are playwriters who find themselves needing to write under the guise of a man's name to have their voices heard.

This historical fiction was incredibly well-researched, thought-provoking and emotional. At times as a reader, I sat in discomfort, particularly in reading about the challenges Emilia faced during her lifetime and how little choice she had at crucial points of her life. Jodi Picoult has never steered away from tackling tough topics and challenging the readers and this book is the same.

Having Melina write a play about Emilia felt very fulfilling and full circle and without giving away any spoilers by Emilia's last chapter I was moved again to tears. I enjoyed the quotes and Shakespeare references thoughtfully woven throughout. Despite not being an avid Shakespeare enthusiast I was able to recognise and enjoy several of them.

Jodi Picoult's author's note was very compelling and had my jaw dropping. It has forever changed the way I view Shakespeare's works and had me eagerly researching and learning more during and after reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for access to the ARC copy.

‘What do you say when you know your words will be your last? I was here. I mattered’

Becoming a successful, female playright in this day and age is tough. Melina, finds out just how tough when her college play is critiqued to smithereens. A decade on, and still rudderless, she finds inspiration to write a new script, one based upon a 16th Century ancestor, Emilia Bassano - England's first, published female poet. As the story pivots between Melina's and Emilia's lives and struggles with their writing, with their authorship, parallels begin to emerge. 400 years may have passed but women's voices, women's success within male-dominated areas, still wavers; it's still tenuous at best. Both women, who struggle to be seen, are determined to be heard. However, what's really the cost of remaining anonymous and is it a price worth paying?

This book was full of love, passion, heartache, frustration and even violence. Emilia Bassano's character is based upon the actual woman. Picoult provides compelling evidence and thought-provoking ideas on Shakespeare’s authorship as well as women’s erasure from history; beliefs so engrained, so embedded within our societal psyche, we’re all complicit in perpetuating them.

Picoult’s endnotes are robust and compelling, adding a layer of resonance to the story. She ends by noting that she predicts that this book will generate by far the most hate mail - despite many of her other contentious book topics - zealots of Shakespeare. That gobsmacked me. And I guess, that only underscores how little has fundamentally changed all these centuries later.

'History, she said, is written by those in power'.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

I have never read Shakespeare, and I can tell you my mind is completely blown. I can only imagine if you have read or studied Shakespeare, what reading this book will do to you.
It has completely upended everything I thought I knew, as it should.
Well done, Jodi Picoult. The amount of research it must have taken to write this story! Emilia Bassano will now forever be remembered. I will be recommending this to everyone! AMAZING!