REVIEW: By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

In By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult, Melina Green has never failed to believe she would become a successful playwright in NYC and would one day see a play of her own on Broadway. But after harsh criticism from a famous critic about her work, Melina’s hopes are dashed. Then she finds out she’s related to the first known female poet: Emilia Bassano. And the more information she uncovers, the more she believes her relative was also the one who created some of Shakespeare’s most well-loved plays. As Melina writes about Emilia and crafts a story both real and fictional, she understands parts of that plight all too well. As evidenced by the rejection of her work even as male writers around her flourish. It’s when her best friend submits Melina’s play, By Any Other Name, with a male pseudonym that she begins to see her fortune change.

‘Her life could be viewed as a tragedy, or it could be a comedy. It was truly a matter of perspective.’

Emilia was handed some harsh cards in life, much like many other women of her day. Music has always soothed her but it’s the written word that sends her heart soaring and has her mind moving in several directions at once. But unfortunately, being a woman in the late 1500s means Emilia isn’t permitted to write plays, poems, or short stories. And certainly not to sell them. Although she creates characters and theatrical storylines that would please not only those in London but also the Queen herself, Emilia knows better than to pursue her art. When she’s forced into a situation that endangers her safety and meager way of life, Emilia–after encouragement by a fellow writer, Kit Marlowe–does the unthinkable. She sells one piece of work to an actor and businessman named William Shakespeare. And it changes her life in ways both good and bad.

“Your plays, sir,” she said softly. “They have…not found favor.”
Shakespeare started to rise from his chair. “I did not come here for insult–”
“I, too, wish to write,” Emilia interrupted, “but I cannot.” She did not have to explain why; it was obvious.
“I believe we can help each other,” Emilia said. “You wish for everyone to know your name; I wish for no one to know mine.”

A fascinating novel where dual timelines pieced together historical facts and fiction seamlessly, BY ANY OTHER NAME explored the long-held idea that Shakespeare’s plays were written by a woman. And what an argument Jodi Picoult has for the theory being true.

‘What was it about a woman’s voice that was so terrifying to a man?’

CW:View Spoiler »Misogyny, classism, prostitution, terminal illness, racism, domestic abuse, murder, miscarriage, abortion. « Hide Spoiler

Like all of Jodi Picoult’s books, BY ANY OTHER NAME was well thought out, timely, and dealt with many themes that were relevant as much in the Elizabethan period as they are today: women’s rights, classism, misogyny, and discrimination, among other topics. But wrapped up in all of that was also romance, complicated family relationships, and lasting friendship. It was a mix that, even though I found myself taking my time to savor the words, made this into a page-turner.

I’m not going to sugarcoat Emilia Bassano’s real life in the late 1500s and into the 1600s. It was bleak. Dark. Filled with uncertainty and at times violence no one should ever endure. She wasn’t given many options in life but at least through Picoult’s portrayal of her, Emilia had incredible strength–and wit. And I honestly found myself believing it all. Believing that she wrote some of the plays Shakespeare passed off as his own. And hoping against hope that Emilia did indeed find some love to cherish in her grim existence.

As heart wrenching as her life in and around London was, it was Emilia’s storyline and timeline that I was completely entranced by page after page. The amount of history Picoult included was impressive. As was how she carefully knit together Emilia and Melina’s stories, showing how their lives mirrored each other in many ways even though they were born over four hundred years apart. Melina faced backlash and challenges as a female playwright, watching her male counterparts succeed with subpar work. The only thing I wasn’t keen on was how long she let the lie continue that her play was written by a man. I understood her reasoning. But I think some readers might get frustrated with how Emilia handled it.

QOTD: Have you ever been to a production of a Shakespeare play?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: August 20th, 2024 | Ballantine Books |

From the New York Times bestselling 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.

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.