Two women playwrights living centuries apart battle the same problem of being a woman in a man's world. Fictional present day playwright Mel pens a play about the historical figure Emilie Bassano. Mel's present day play only sees the light of day because she used her male friend to act as the author. Emilia's story is one debated over the years as being Shakespeare's 'Dark Lady'. Was it a homosexual side Shakespeare or were many of his plays and poems actually written by Emilia? Jodi Picoult makes a compelling story and in the book's epilog she presents her evidence to back her beliefs. Although she can't nail this case shut, there is certainly a lot of there there. The book at times feels a bit long, but overall it was a good read. ( )

I gave myself permission to stop reading this one (DNF) at 224 pages (out of 544). It was getting to the point where I no longer wanted to read about either woman in this dual timeline, and I was dreading picking it up. I had too many more pages to go and I couldn’t convince myself to just keep reading.

I am in the minority in that I have only read one other Jodi Picoult book ("Wish You Were Here," which I liked). Her newest novel sounded good and I loved the cover. But despite the interesting premise and the meticulous research, the story was becoming depressing and I felt like it was only going to get worse.

My reading motto: “Life is too short. If you don’t like the book, it’s OK to move on.” ( )

I wasn't sure that I wanted to read this book since I have never had any interest in Shakespeare. So, I kept reading a little bit at a time to see if it held my interest. Evidently, it did since I just finished it. Jodi Picoult did an amazing job researching this book! There is a dual timeline, Melina Green, a young playwright in 2013 and Emilia Bassano, another young writer in 1581. Both women face discrimination but are determined to get their words published. ( )

A woman writes plays and sells them to WIlliam Shakespear who cannot write at all. A descendent of hers writes a play about the woman's life. Despite centuries, women are still handicapped in their ability to be part of the theater community. ( )

Two women born years apart but face similar circumstances. A historical fiction where one woman is based on real woman, Emilia Bassano. Emilia 's story was researched by the Author and makes for truly powerful read. ( )

By Any Other Name: A Novel, Jodi Picoult, author; Billie Fulford-Brown, Laura Benanti, Jayne Entwistle, Andrew Fallaize, Joe Jameson, John Lee, Nicholas Guy Smith, Simon Vance, Steve West, and the author, Jodi Picoult, narrators.
Melina Green and Andre Washington are roommates. He is black and gay. She is white and Jewish. They are both writers, so they have that in common. He believes he is at a disadvantage because of his color, and she believes she is at a disadvantage because of her gender. Neither have been successful yet and neither have recently submitted manuscripts.
At one time, the literary critic, Jasper Tolle, had pretty much trashed Melina’s manuscript and her talent. She was demoralized. When her future manuscripts were so often rejected, she stopped submitting them for publication. Andre had no confidence and did not submit his either.
The story actually begins when Andre learns of a contest. While in a drunken stupor, he decides to submit Melina’s manuscript, not his own. He submits it under the name of Mel Green. She knows nothing about this, and he believes that using the name Mel instead of Melina, means that her sexual identification will play no part in how it is treated. When she unexpectedly wins the contest, Melina is aghast and forces him, in the name of friendship, to pretend that he is her. He becomes Mel Green and she becomes Andrea Washington, his assistant. The winners’ plays will be produced, but the same theater critic, Jasper Tolle, that once trashed Melina’s effort, will be in charge. She hides her identity from him.
The play is called “By Any Other Name”. It is all about her ancestor, who happens to be Emilia Lanyer, nee Bassano (a hidden Jew), a courtesan, and the supposed real author of many of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. As a woman in the 1500’s, Emilia had no rights at all. In order to be published, she too, used a false identity. Emilia was so talented, that Shakespeare, not so talented, paid her to write the plays, and he submitted and produced them under his own name. She was happy just to have her plays performed. Both main characters, Melina and Emilia, live in a world that is portrayed with very limited rights for women, although Emilia’s seems far more limited. Perhaps the point is that the more things have changed, the more they have remained the same.
Although both women secretly posed as males to achieve success, which woman truly achieved the success? Although both suffered from limited rights, if we compare their lives, did both have legitimate concerns? Melina, in the modern world, believes that women and other marginalized groups live in a society designed to offer them less opportunity. Emilia lives in the past world in which women were merely chattel, owned by the man they lived with or married.
Emilia’s world, 400 years ago, is illuminated well, but it became tedious as it got repetitious and seemed to focus on her romantic involvements. So, Emilia Bassano may or may not have been the real Shakespeare, but apparently, she was the real paramour of Lord Hunsdon, but really only in love with Henry Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton. She was also great friends with Christopher Marlowe, the esteemed playwright. Emilia is depicted as very courageous, though not virtuous.
Melina Green, is in the world of the present. Her play, highlighting her ancestor who happens to be Emilia Bassano, is the play Andre submitted. Her character does not feel as fully developed as Emilia’s. The main point about Melina is that as a woman she feels abused by the system, and because of that, she is keeping too many secrets. She often dissolves into tears. I am not sure she is painted with too much virtue either, since her success is coupled with lies. Romance and passion soon overtake her, as well.
In fact, was Emilia a real person? Was she really Shakespeare? Was Shakespeare really untalented? Was Christopher Marlowe really her friend?
This is an elaborate production of a novel that spans four centuries and features two women fighting a system that abuses them. There are multiple narrators who perform well, and it is obvious that an enormous amount of research went into the writing of this book. The message it imparts is that women and other marginalized groups, blacks, Latinx, LGBTQ+, etc., do not have equal rights or equal opportunity, that white men are in charge and do not realize how unfair their position is, with regard to the rest of the population, and possibly, though I hope not, that Jewish husbands are physically abusive to their wives because they can be and have that right. Alphonso Lanyer brutally beat Emilia. Her recovery often demanded the suspension of disbelief. It was a hard book to finish. ( )

“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 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. ( )

I thought that this book was a fascinating read. The novel alternates between the stories of Emilia Bassano, a woman writer living during Shakespeare's time, and Melina Green, a descendent of Emilia's who is trying to make it as a playwright in the present day. While Emilia lived during a time when women were not allowed to write professionally, she somehow managed to be the first English woman to have her poems published. Melina lives in the present day, but the times have not changed very much for women playwrights since very few of them are able to have their plays make it to actual productions. I have always loved historical fiction which is based upon actual facts and Jodi Picoult does a fantastic job in her author's note explaining why she doesn't believe that the historical person William Shakespeare wrote all of the plays with his name and how it could be possible that Emilia Bassano wrote some of his plays. ( )

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)

I must admit I picked this book because of the author, not to mention the beautiful cover. I wasn’t sure how invested I’d be…William Shakespeare, not usually my cup of tea. This book is long, over 500 pages. The chapters are long, per kindle some are 60-90 minutes. I’m here to say that from the first page, I enjoyed everything about this book.

Dual timeline of the late 1500s and 2020s. Emilia Bassano, a ward of English aristocrats is forced at a young age to become a mistress to Lord Chamberlain who oversees theater productions. She possesses a sharp mind and a love for the written word. Melina Green is a modern day talented playwright, who knows that seeing her work performed is unlikely. Both women are faced with prejudices. Both hide behind a different name in order to bring their talent to light. One will do everything in her power to tell the story of the one who came before her.

Both stories are beautifully written and tie in perfectly. I loved Emilia’s story, from her early upbringing to her heartbreaking ending. All is so vividly brought to life. Melina’s transformation from someone meek to finding her voice and making sure that one special story will be brought to life. The amount of research that went into this blows my mind. I love reading Author’s Notes and this one did not disappoint. Ms. Picoult brought to life the works of “Shakespeare”, and will make you question everything you’ve been taught. So much food for thought! Historical fiction at its best. This has become one of my favorite JP books.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion. ( )

In the modern day, Melina Green struggles to find acceptance as a woman playwright. When her bestie submits her play using a shortened-male version of her name, she decides to hide behind her bestie rather than admit she created the play. In 1581, Emilia Bassano has a gift for storytelling. After living as a courtesan, she is married off to a brutal man. In order to earn money and provide for her child, she sells her plays and poems to William Shakespeare.

In general, I do not love books that are split between time periods. I found myself way more interested in Emilia’s story and rushing through Melina’s chapters. I thought Melina was a complainer and very unlikeable. Emilia’s story was way more captivating, and I wish the book was solely her story. OVerall, 3 out of 5 stars. ( )

I was so excited to read Jodi Picoult’s latest dual timeline novel about Emilia Bassano, an Elizabethan author and playwright who some believe wrote at least some of Shakespeare’s plays. And after having read this novel and been inspired to do some additional research, I have to say I agree with the premise. This is an amazing book, both thought-provoking and hearth-wrenching. Although the modern storyline got a bit preachy for my taste, the ending made it all worthwhile. Loved this, and highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ( )

Melina is a young playwright. She has written a play about her ancestor, Emilia Bassano. Emilia was also a playwright in the 1500s. Since Melina has had some bad experiences in the past, she is hesitant to put her new work out there. However, Melina’s best friend submits her play anyway, under a male pseudonym.

Y’all! I absolutely love this author. But this is probably my least favorite of her books. And I have read them all! That does not mean that it wasn’t good. It is just not my favorite.

This story starts out and it is slow for quite a while, but boy, when it takes off, it takes off like a rocket. But sadly, this doesn’t take place till about halfway through. I also did not like Melina very well. She lies, she is overly dramatic and she is a bit of a coward. She just did not sit very well with me.

I did enjoy the dual timelines, especially the one about Emilia Bassano. Her story is tragic and emotional. And it had me researching! Could she be the writer for Shakespeare?? Who knows? But I love the idea and the possibilities that could make it true!

Need a unique historical mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

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 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. ( )

“There once was a girl who became invisible so that her words might not be.” What if the most famous writer you know of wasn’t actually one person, but a collaboration of writers, using an allonym as an umbrella for those talented writers whose work he claimed as his own? What if there was multiple pieces of proof of this, as many writers of the time did similar things, and the famous ‘writer’ had proven he was an adequate actor, but not a worthy writer? Finally, what if I said his name was William Shakespeare; would you believe me?
In her most recent novel, Picoult delves into the mystery surrounding the true origins of Shakespeare’s writings through the stories of Emelia Bessano and Melina Green, relations who are 4 centuries apart, both navigating a world where men say women do not write pieces of worth. “Women do not write poetry… (Emelia) what you hold in your hands proves otherwise.”
Emelia Bessano was actually a female writer from the 1500’s, who is thought to possibly be one of the collaborators whom William Shakespeare paid to write plays and poems under his name. Picoult brings these intriguing characters to life with a plot that maps out the many obstacles each woman faces. They were not taken seriously as writers, simply because of their gender. “Men believed women were meant to exist on the fringes of their lives, instead of being the main characters in their own stories.”
Picoult is one of my favorite writers. Her storytelling is backed by extensive research of each novel’s main theme, captivating her audience as she weaves fact and fiction together masterfully. She does the same here. Truth though? I was torn with this one. It took me longer than normal to get into it, and although I know the stories behind the ‘Shakespearian’ plays and poems, I am not a huge Shakespeare fan. However, Picoult drew me in with her skillful and intelligent writing, and I ended up not being able to put this book down. It pulled emotions from me that I wasn’t expecting, and as always, her Author’s Note at its conclusion tied the facts and fiction together beautifully. You may walk away from this one satisfied with each woman's story, but with more questions on the theme than when you began. I believe this is deliberate, and quite clever of Picoult to leave you to ponder, question and draw your own conclusions on Shakespeare’s authorship based on the research and story she laid out.
*I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review ( )

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 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 ( )

This was not one of my favorite Jodi Picoult books. The dual stories of Melina Green in the present day and Emilia Bassano in the 16th century were interesting but also dragged on at times. The book just felt too long. But it was obviously very well researched and gave a fascinating perspective on Shakespeare's works. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. ( )

Moving back and forth in time, this novel describes the difficulties of women playwrights in both contemporary and Elizabethan times. Picoult obviously did a great deal of research about the historic person of Emilia Bassano, the first published English woman poet who could conceivably have been the actual author of several of the plays attributed to William Shakespeare. In contemporary New York, struggling author Melina Green is fascinated by Bassano's story and writes a play about her. In both times the women are unable to be published or produced because of their gender, and so solicit men to claim the work as their own. I found this novel interesting enough to follow up with research of my own, and the story will stay with me. However, I thought that the pace lagged in the middle, and found myself wishing that the plot would move along. ( )

There has always been suspicion that Shakespeare was not the author of the works attributed to him and through the years there has been “evidence" presented to support this view.

By Any Other Name tells the fictional story of two women, separated by centuries, but related (distantly) by blood and also by the obstacles they face as women in the literary world. In the 1500s, Emilia Bassano is a talented writer. Yet, as a woman, she cannot present any of her work just as she has no independence of her own first as the mistress of a titled older man and later as the property of her husband. And so, she must sell her works to Shakespeare so that they can be seen and heard under his name.

In present day, Melina Green, has written a play about Bassano that she knows will be dismissed in the chauvinistic world of theater. When her work is mistaken to be the product of her best friend, Andre, a gay black man, the charade backfires.

This book will not be for everyone. It is long (544 pages), it goes back and forth between the two timelines, and has violence against women. In fact, it took me a while to realize I really, really liked the story. The writing is literate, powerful, emotional, thought provoking. As is typical with a Picoult novel, it is well researched and educational. It is gut wrenching to read of the position of women in the 1500s; dispiriting to think about the prejudice that still exists today…not only toward women, but other marginalized people as well. The story also gave me a lot to think about that is happening today politically as it relates to history, especially the control the Puritans tried to enforce over society in the 1500s.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @RandomHouse #BallantineBooks for the DRC. ( )