By Any Other Name is a beautifully written, compelling novel that explores the theme of identity and the ways in which two women, centuries apart?one of whom might just be the real author of Shakespeare’s plays?are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.

Melina is a young playwright in New York. Her ancestor is Emilia Bassano, one of the first female poets. As Emilia researches her she becomes convinced that Emilia actually wrote some of Shakepeares plays and decides to write a play on the subject. However, like her Emilia she finds herself overlooked due to her sex and is forced to make her male flatmate pretend that he is the writer.
From this start the novel is written in dual timelines telling Melina and Emilia’s stories. Emilia’s is better and more interesting as it is clearly well researched and based on fact. However, some aspects such as suggesting Kit Marlowe was her gay best friend just to echo the modern day story line seemed far fetched and rather silly. Melina’s story line seems to be there to break up Emilia’s and to ram home the point that nothing has changed for female writers.
I enjoyed the book but it is very long and I lost interest at several points. Not one of Jodi Piccolt’s best.

What a sweeping, emotional and timely novel.

As a Shakespeare fan, I am often dubious about questions around whether he truly wrote all works attributed to him. However I am now completely open to not only this possibility, but the likelihood.

The book is about more than that. It is a book that is driven by the inequality that women have faced, so the topic is not new. But the the injustice is felt just as painfully as if it it were just discovered. And as we know, how these discourses are still needed to address the misogyny seen into our society.

There are some really important and uncomfortable, as they should be, obervations around the need for intersectionality within feminism. I fear that this makes it all sound a bit dry and its completely far from the reality.

What I loved most about the book was the heart wrenching fictionalised story of Emelia in the 16th/17th century and seeing the parallels with Melina in the 21st century. I was completely absorbed in both timelines and think that Jodi Picoult has written the characters with such viracity and humanity that I couldnt help fall for them.

I wouldnt claim perfection, but any small complaints I might have nearly had are overuled by the wonderfully engaging elements and the tears I shed for Emelia and all the women, who suffer purely for being a woman. I loved it, no matter how much fact is in the book. Emelia has been elevated, even if only as a representation of women, women who they tried to persuade us to forget, but who are worth remembering.
It is important and rousing and completely entertaining.

A dual timeline story that explores the idea at Shakespeare didn't write his own plays - in this book, anywhere in fact written by a woman, Emilia Bassano. Her modern day descendant, Melina, is also a playwright, and Picoult explores the challenges both women faced to get their work seen and recognised.

Beautifully written, although slow in parts, I felt I was in Elizabethan England. I preferred the historical timeline, but interesting parallels between past and present kept me entertained.

Present day - Melina is an aspiring playwright who is struggling to get a foothold in the male dominated industry. When a script of hers, accidentally submitted under a pseudonym, wins a competition, she decides to let it play out but the effect it has on her relationships proves to be worse than she expected.

400 years earlier - Melina's ancestor (and the main character in her play), Emilia Bassano, is a courtesan believed to have been the true author of some of Shakespeare's most succesful work, and this timeline follows her struggles after the death of her father and explains how she ends up meeting and seeling her writing to him.

This well-woven, well researched tale. I have to admit to enjoying Emilia sections more, Melina got on my nerves a bit too much I think! Although the difference (or lack of...) in the gender gap between the two women, 400 years apart, is pretty depressing.

Jodi Picot never disappoints. By Any Other Name is breathtakingly well written, engaging, and enjoyable.

By Any Other Name is a fascinating dual-timeline story that explores the struggles of two female writers, Emilia Bassano in Elizabethan England and her modern-day descendant, Melina Green.
Emilia, a real historical figure, may have written some of Shakespeare’s plays, while Melina faces the same challenges centuries later as a playwright in Manhattan.
I loved the way Jodi Picoult delves into the Shakespeare dilemma and explores the theme of female representation in the arts. The historical details in Emilia’s sections were beautiful, but I found Melina’s character frustrating at times,which is more to say about me than anything else.
Overall, the atmospheric setting and thought-provoking themes made this a compelling read, though the pacing felt slow in some parts.
It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in overlapping stories that go for centuries.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own.

I love Jodi Picoult, but this was a very different piece of writing for her, which I enjoyed very much! If, like me, you ever watched Mamma Mia or We Will Rock You and was amazed that the songs weren't written for the musical, rather than a convincing story woven around existing songs, you will be just as amazed by this book.

Picoult devises a story around the central character of Emilia, who is the 'real' writer of Shakespeare's plays. I love any story set in the Early Modern period, so this was a story I really wanted to read. Emilia is the most amazing character whose life is unbelievably hard. I am not sure I was convinced that her movements would have been quite so free and easy, particularly when she is one man's courtesan and carrying on an affair with another, but I still needed to read on. I wanted a happy ending, but it was not to be. Yet, somehow the resolution was satisfying.

The book had a dual narration, which I know is something Jodi Picoult uses often, but on this occasion, I was so caught up in Emilia's story, I did find the modern timeline to be an annoying distraction. It served as a framing device, but I wasn't that interested in Melina's story.

Another amazing read! Don not pass this one up!

This was such an interesting, well researched and moving story with an immediately intriguing premise. I do love a 'what if' story that takes a well known historical period and gives it a twist. In this case we're given an alternative Tudor literary history that explores the possibility that acknowledged poet Emilia Bassano/Lanier was the true author of some of the most famous plays ever written - in other words, what if William Shakespeare was just a front for a female playwright, the acceptable face for Tudor England society.

I will admit I didn't look too in depth into the premise beyond that key question as I was absolutely drawn in by that alone which did mean I was a little disappointed when it opened up with a modern storyline. Mel is a likeable enough character but wasn't what I wanted from the book. I was much more taken with Emilia's story and was absolutely swept away by her chapters.

The modern timeline felt a little like a rude interruption at times and whilst I understood why the stories were running in parallel I found myself resenting it, especially as how that story was going to unfold was very clearly signposted from minute one. Despite those misgivings, and being proven pretty much correct on every point, Mel's story did wrap up nicely but I overall found Emilia's story to be much stronger, engaging and moving.

I really enjoyed seeing her story develop over the pages and felt much more attached to her so when her story came to its close I found myself profoundly touched by the final pages which were beautifully written.

This was my first Jodi Picoult and I thought her writing style was wonderfully fluid and easy to read and really brought into her world through her words. As a Shakespeare fan I had a smile every time I saw something from a play or sonnet woven into the story helping shape Emilia's experience. Despite my discomfort about the early years of her relationship with Hunsdon due to her age (unfortunately a common enough occurrence during that time) I thought that Picoult navigated it well and really gave context to the situation.

Having read Rachel Blackmore's Costanza earlier this year which a full fictionalised biography, I was left feeling a little disappointed that we had the dual timeline for this story as I wanted to be fully swept up in Emilia's life without distraction. However, overall I can understand why it was written this way and it does work and is an important perspective that gives this book a different edge so it doesn't sit purely in the historical fiction category.

This book may not work for all and it may feel a little long for some but I highly recommend reading it because the historical chapters are captivating and fully draws you into that world.

3.75* rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a digital review copy of "By Any Other Name" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult is a clever blend of historical and contemporary fiction. In the current day we follow the struggles of Melina, an aspiring playwright who faces an uphill battle in the male dominated world of the theatre. When a trail of circumstances result in her play being submitted to a competition under a male pseudonym she decides to let it slide but as success beckons the struggle to maintain the deceit and the impact it has on her friendships and relationships becomes too much to bear. As the subject of her play she has chosen one of her ancestors, Emilia Bassano, an Elizabethan courtesan who may have written several of the plays attributed to Shakespeare. In the historical timeline we follow Emilia in her struggles as she is essentially sold as a companion to the Lord Chamberlain, whose duties include overseeing the theatre. As she becomes enmeshed in the world she dreams of creating characters and plays of her own, something which is unthinkable and impossible for a woman at that time. Her solution ? Use a jobbing actor/ writer who dreams of fame to front her plays , and the man she chooses is Shakespeare.
I found myself particularly invested in Emilia's story while reading, the descriptions of life in Elizabethan London were amazing and I enjoyed seeing real historical figures crop up as characters. Melina was less compelling to me, while I could understand her struggles on an intellectual level I did not enjoy seeing her take advantage of her friend with very little care or thought for the consequences. This is quite a slow paced book and readers who do not enjoy a lot of description might find it something of a struggle, especially since it is on the longer side. I enjoyed getting a peek behind the curtain of the theatre world but can understand that it might not be to everyone's taste.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Having read all this authors other books, I was really looking forward to this one. However, it was just not my cup of tea. I don’t mind “different timeline” stories and they often add weight to the story. I appreciate what Ms Picoult was trying to achieve by doing this but it actually didn’t work for me. I found the book long winded and fairly tedious. Maybe if I read it again, I may enjoy it more but I am in no desperate hurry to do so

Separated by over 400-years, By Any Other Name tells the story of two female writers, real life figure, Emilia Bassano, and her fictional descendant Melina Green. Jodi Picoult delves into the Shakespeare authorship question and explores the idea of Bassano writing some of Shakespeare’s infamous works with compelling arguments and a stock of real life and fictitious characters. Stretching forward to the present day, Melina is inspired by the discovery of her not-so-famous ancestor, and uses her struggles as the basis of her controversial play in order to relaunch her own creative career after years of rejection.

I find the themes around female representation in theatre and the arguments around the Shakespeare authorship question fascinating. The author has clearly researched and the ‘Easter eggs’ throughout is impressive. I love a historical fiction, and mixed with themes still relevant to the modern day, I thought it was a dead cert. However, I struggled with the book at times. I found Melina as a character pretty annoying, which can be argued is part of the point if you take into account the direct comparison in the book to her gay, black best friend Andre who is also from marginalised communities in theatre.

I felt there was sometimes a disconnect with the writing. Sometimes I would love it, especially Emilia’s sections which were so well researched, and in places, well written. Other times, I found modern writing slipping into the older time period… would an Elizabethan/Jacobean woman really call someone a ‘rat bastard’? I feel like I’m being a tad harsh seeing as I overall enjoyed it but that I just did not buy. I ended the book feeling a little disappointed as I wanted to love it more than I did.

Overall, one for historical fiction / literature fans. I am excited that the Shakespeare authorship question is getting a spotlight, and would love to see if it can sway more people into questioning the concept of Shakespeare as the romantic solitary genius, as well as seeing if a case can be made for Emilia Bassano. I mean, with what little we know about Shakespeare, it’s as good as guess as any, right?

Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors and I have read and every single one of her earlier books but I am sad to say that I just could not get in to this one

What an incredible book!! Jodi Picoult is the queen of weaving stories so detailed that you feel like you’re there. I particularly loved the fact that this is based on true theories and had great fun reading about it from other perspectives when I finished. The best kind of book is one that makes you want to research things within it when you finish!
Thank you so much for this arc!

I am a bit of a fan of this author, admittedly I discovered her late and am still working my way through her back catalogue. But I am also jumping on every new release as soon as I am able. She has the ability to include important messages within her books without coming across as preachy - neat trick indeed.
In this book, she features the inequality of women, something that is a bit topical in the msm and on social networks at the moment, illustrating that, really, things have not progressed as much as maybe we think they have over the past decades/centuries...
We start in the present with Melina who has written a new play. But the chances of it ever being performed is slim, no matter how good it is, the fact that she is a woman is not on her side. So.. she does what anyone would in this situation, she submits it under a male pseudonym.
Ironically, the play she has written is inspired by her own Elizabethan ancestor, Emilia Bassano, and it is here that our narrative splits into a dual timeline as we then also follow Emilia as she finds herself in a similar situation to Melina. You see, she is the real author of the works attributed to William Shakespeare. He is only a name, an actor playing a part...
As well as writing a well researched, inspiring, important story, the author has also introduced me to a literary figure who I had never heard of. But one who I would like to know much much more about. It also made me completely shocked to discover that women are still very much second class citizens in the arts. I actually though we were better than this these days, but sadly not. Which as well as being a shock is also a shame. And something to be ashamed about. To be honest with you. I go to the theatre a lot, I am also blessed to live near Chichester Festival Theatre who often produce new plays, by new playwrights and I can't think of one time when I payed any attention as to whether the playwright or producer or whoever was male, female, black, white, straight, queer, or came from the planet mars. It simply didn't register as being a "thing". And I naively, obviously, thought it was the same for everyone else. After reading this book, my eyes have sadly been opened...
This isn't a light read. It weighs in at just under 600 pages and, often, it feels like it. Especially in the sections set in the past. I did get a bit bogged down in them somewhat. I feel a bit of a prune could have been done on some of the long winded descriptions. But then I am a bit of a fan of getting on with things. Others might disagree.
Also, unusually for this author, I felt that some of the characters could have been better fleshed out. Some of them came across as a tad one-dimensional on occasion.
So all in all, I have mixed feelings about his book. Mostly positive but with the aforementioned niggles. I did get through it, eventually, even though it took a while and I did read other things in between, and I am overall pleased that I made the effort. It was a bit of a slog though and, in my opinion, not at all representative of her writing in general.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

In present day Manhattan, struggling playwright Melina learns that she is related to a woman from sixteenth century England, Emilia Bassano. Connected not just by blood, Melina discovers that they have further things in common that span the centuries – they are both female creatives in a male-dominated industry, exploring how they can get their voices heard, whilst navigating the ebb and flow of their personal lives.

I really enjoyed reading ‘By Any Other Name’. I love historical fiction with a dual timeline, and I felt particularly immersed when reading the chapters featuring Emilia throughout her life. These chapters set in the sixteenth century felt vivid and richly woven; I could have quite happily read a whole novel just about Emilia and this period in time.

The chapters set in the present day encourage the reader to think about the similarities between the two women’s lives and exactly how much, if much at all, has changed in nearly four hundred years. The story also explores other biases, unconscious or otherwise, relating to race, sexuality and neurodivergence. I found an argument Melina has with her friend and roommate, Andre, really thought-provoking in this regard.

This is the first novel I have read by this author and the research that has gone into every part of it is clear. It’s possible I had heard the name Emilia Bassano before now, as I wasn’t totally surprised to find out that she is a real person from the sixteenth century, as well as a published poet, and Picoult believes her to be the author of some of the plays attributed to William Shakespeare. After finishing the book, I happened across a short film of Picoult being shown a miniature of a woman, possibly Bassano, that is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection, which only brought the book to life even further for me.

A thoroughly fantastic read and thought-provoking in so many ways.

Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the advance copy of ‘By Any Other Name’, on which this review is based.

Set in historical sixteenth and seventeenth century, and modern day times chapters.
Emilia Bassano in 1581 is aged twelve. Young Emilia’s life is about to change in ways she had never realised. An intelligent girl, with a love of words and writing, but it’s the late sixteenth century when women don’t always have a voice, or a choice.
Moving forward to 2013 and Melina Green from the USA wants to be a playwright. She has dreams, but will they come to fruition?

I loved this book, especially the historical fiction, though there were characters based on real people of the historical era.
I was surprised about the collaboration thoughts of Shakespeare and his writing, but found it fascinating. It does give food for thought.
I was not aware of Emilia Bassano, but now I am I will not forget.
A book I will remember.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

I read a few of JP's books and loved all of them but one. By Any Other Name belongs to the Love category. The book has two timeliness, one in the present set in NYC and the other in the 16th century Shakespearean England.

Emilia Bassano is only 13 when her cousin sells her to Lord Chamberlain as a courtesan. She has access to read theatre plays submitted to Lord Chamberlain who is in charge of deciding which plays make it to the theatre stage. Her dream is to write a play of her own, but as a woman she is not allowed.

Melina Green is a playwright living in New York City sharing a flat with her best friend Andre. She learns that Emilia Bassano is her ancestor and writes a play about her. Worried about prejudices against women in theatre she is reluctant to submit her play. Andre wants to see her friend succeed and submits it on her behalf under a male pseudonym.

Meticulously researched, beautifully written, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Emilia's moving story set in the Elizabethian era intertwined with Melina's struggles as a female playwright in the modern times. One of my best reads in 2024.

Many thanks to net Galley and Michael Joseph Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors so was excited to read her new book.
This one though was not for me, I was disappointed.
The story is told alternately by two young woman, one in the 1500s and one in the present day. I did not like either of these characters.
As in all works by Jodie Picoult, it is obvious that a lot of research went into this book and it is woven into the story. I found it a slow, laborious read, perhaps this is because I am not a Shakespeare fan.
I have to admit I gave up on this one 2 thirds of the way through.

I thought this latest novel from one of my favourite authors, Jodi Picoult, was going to suit me a lot as I love historical fiction. Sadly, I found it my least favourite of her many and varied genre novels for me.

It's an interesting premise written in two timelines. One time line follows Emilia Bassano from aged 12 in 1581 and the other focuses on Melina Green a budding female playwright in modern day.

Emilia Lanier nee Bassano was a real person in history. She was the first female professional poet in England and is believed by some to be one of several writers who William Shakespeare used to write his large portfolio of work. Meanwhile, in present day, Melina is struggling for her work to be recognised as it is seemingly always judged by white men who are prejudiced against the work of women and other groups of people. Melina's flatmate, Andre, who is black and gay, is having his own battles in achieving recognition for his writing. In a drunken moment he decides to help Melina in her effort to be recognised and sends off an email which then makes life very complicated for Melina and Andre.

I preferred the timeline about Melina as the Emilia sections were very lengthy and full of references to Shakespeare plays. I am not a fan of Shakespeare and not familiar with many of his plays so I found these sections very tedious, not least with the old fashioned language used in those times.

I am sorry I could not write a more positive review for one of my favourite authors but thank NetGalley and Michael Joseph for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.