By Any Other Name: A Novel

I am astounded by the amount of research that Jodi PIcoult invests in each novel. It is as profound as the subject matter and the sweeping novel I just finished. Every obscure reference the novel brought up, I would stop and look up and they were all true! I always love how novels find me when I am the most in need of a companion. Telling the true story of Emilia Basano through the journey of an aspiring Playwirght Melina Green was a brilliant device. As a believer in equality, I work hard to make sure women have the same opportunities as men and I rarely believe we get the same opportunities or respect as men. As a theatre founder, I related to Melina’s fear of submitting her play and the fear she experienced. It helped to articulate some of the uncertainty I am currently experiencing. My early reservation about the novel is that I am not a Shakespeare aficionado, even though we have the Shakespeare Tavern down the road and I spent many years going to Georgia Shakespeare. I was pleasantly surprised by how many references I understood and related to how the pain of our real lives gets translated into the ART we create. The epic tale of Emilia’s lifelong deception hooked me. Her words felt stolen by Shakespeare although she monetized her ART which I talk about all the time to our Apprentices. She undervalued her worth and she longed to be with the love of her life. Melina’s story was just as compelling. Living in New York with her best friend Andre (the name of my best high school friend) both trying to make it as playwrights, rooting for her to get her play produced was exciting. Proving the critics wrong! That is what have been spending my entire career doing. Having just returned from London, my greatest regret may be that I didn’t go to Victoria and Albert Museum to see the miniature portraits of Emilia and Southampton “the unknown man” for myself, but I will fondly remember our boat ride on the Thames past the Old Globe Theatre in 2025. If I had one small quibble, it would be that Goodspeed Opera House was producing someone’s play! The Main Opera House only produces musicals and their Norma Terris Theatre may host a casual play reading, they are known for producing MUSICALS ONLY! However, I smiled remembering my wonderful 2 years there as a musical director when I was early on my journey to be a producer half as good as Michael Price and now Donna Lynn Hilton. (Again, it was the novel I needed during this uncertain time.) Thank you for a wonderful novel Jodi. The friends I was traveling with insisted I read MAD HONEY next, so I immediately downloaded it to read in the next few weeks. They also suggested I look into producing the musical you wrote with your daughter called, “Between the Lines.” You continue to inspire me as a powerful and outspoken woman ARTIST!

4.5 ★ I loved this book for many reasons, including the characters, the plot, and the emotions of the characters. I've been reading Jodi Picoult since I was in college for my associate’s degree, and while there were some that I loved more than others, there hasn't been a single book of hers that I didn't enjoy reading. I've heard a lot about her recent book, By Any Other Name, and the title alone will make anyone curious enough to pick it up and check it out. I'm so glad I finally got the chance to read this book, and now that I've done so, I can see why so many people were talking about it and why it was nominated for favorite historical fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards. This is unlike any other Picoult book I've read, and it had me up until 1:00 a.m. because I wanted to know what happened to all the characters, particularly Melina and Emilia. I liked how it was done in two timelines and from the perspectives of Melina and Emilia; I thought it brought the story to life more. I liked how the play's writing intertwined Melina and Emilia's experiences and how the two timelines related to each other. I liked reading about Emilia and Melina because, despite their own perceptions, they were both strong and inspirational women. Nevertheless, I found Emilia's story to be more engaging to read; I sensed that more was happening in hers. I was impressed by Emilia's determination; she never gave up and continued to write despite everything that was going on in her life. A part of me wondered if the real 'author' would be uncovered; I didn't think it was fair that she wasn't receiving credit for all her writing. Throughout the novel, I was rooting for her happy ending. I was cheering for Melina to get her play produced because I had a sense there would be problems if a real writer was discovered. I studied and read William Shakespeare's plays in high school. Never did it occur to me that he was not the author. That surprised me, and it motivated me to conduct my own research on the topic. Picoult's novel, By Any Other Name , reflects her deep research. It's one of the reasons I adore her books. However, I believe the book was a little too long, and some portions dragged on and were difficult to get into. Despite that, the book was difficult to put down. This is the novel that will make you think; a story that you will be unable to forget. Following this book, I'm eager to see what Jodi Picoult has in store for us next!

Back in my colleges days, I wondered about William Shakespeare: why is it that such a learned storyteller and a fella who must have been familiar with Elizabeth’s court did not leave a library to his beneficiaries. Though his son had died, he had a living daughter (I think). And then there was this thought—that Shakespeare was a pen name, as in “to shake a spear” at some person, some concept, some event. I discussed this once with my daughter (who had performed in several Shakespeare plays in college and after) and she just said, “Well, it doesn’t really matter. It’s the work that endures and that is what is important.” But the historian in me, remembering when I could not get a credit card in my own name without a struggle and tense negotiation with a banker, and being aware of the need for unions for women mill workers, the Triangle factory fire, and even Ruth Bader Ginsberg, I think my generation of women may wonder at the notion of the major thing—-that the work endures. Nowadays we take women inventors and writers more seriously. Is the longevity of the work more important than the identity of the creator? Nowadays we have patents and something called plagiarism. So when Jodi Picoult pens this historical novel about Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano, I’m in. Emilia, a young mistress of Lord Chamberlain, is both lovely and learned, and when he dies (or is with his less valued but legal wife), Emilia is left with little and struggles with an abusive and worthless husband. She has a baby but aborts another, finds herself madly in love with Southampton, and in an even more unlikely role of a gifted storyteller at a time when women could not appear on the stage and were even less welcomed as authors. She sells some stories (As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, Titus Andronicus) to actor William Shakespeare who gets them produced. Emilia’s struggle is countered with modern writer Melina Green, a gifted storyteller whose work is dismissed by a theatre critic when she is a student at Bard. Somewhat traumatized by the critic’s scathing review of her work, Melina’s work is entered into a competition in which her gay male roommate—a person of color—-assumes her identity as “Mel” Green. Aye, and there’s the rub. It’s a great romp-read with queries to take to heart: maybe don’t allow outside evaluation to cause you to abandon work you love, value your ancestry and research it understanding that some of your talent —-such as linguistic intelligence—-might just be on a gene which is relentless, and take control of your reproductive freedom to fit your life circumstances. And just be open to thinking that at least some of Shakespeare’s work might have been penned by a woman. It would not be the first time a man took credit for a woman’s work.

Jodi Picoult does what she does best — she takes a question we think is historical and makes it painfully present. By Any Other Name moves between two women, centuries apart, both fighting to be heard in worlds that prefer women to stay silent. The plot is bold and layered, but the real beauty is in the question it leaves behind: how many voices have been hidden behind someone else’s name? This book is theatrical, feminist, and unforgettable. It made me think about talent, credit, courage, and the cost of being invisible. This book made me think about the paths I chose and the ones I still wonder about.

Jodi Picoult’s writing is some of my favorite. While I may not agree with her in a lot of views she shares, I read every book she writes. Her words are not forced or written in such a way that feels natural. It’s so easy to read the flow of her books and it’s thoughtfully carried out. This book was no exception. Just as I expected, in her style of writing. The subject of this book was not my personal favorite, but I still found myself wanting to keep reading. I was left wanting and let down by some character development and wanting a little bit more in the way of knowing the main character, Melina. I always loved her points of view from different people and maybe was a little let down that we didn’t hear from more of the characters. I came to know Emilia Bassano better than any other character in the book. At some points the present day chapters felt rushed and a little unfinished. Some things I thought would come back around in the novel, or would be talked about again, but didn’t actually come back up. Overall, it was a decent story.

“I believe we can help each other. You wish for everyone to know your name. I wish for no one to know mine.” Outstanding historical fiction, with sides of literature, romance, and humor. With a slight blush of fantasy. Two novels and a play interlace. From such limited and dubious sources as an astrologer’s diary, Picoult creates a fully realized, sympathetic Elizabethan protagonist. A Shakespearean tragicomedy of errors, mistaken identities, and star-crossed lovers. Picoult expands her reputation. “Your play isn’t about history. What happened to Emilia is still happening, every day.” This who-really-wrote-Shakespeare theory works better than most. Certainly more entertaining. Like The Da Vinci Code, Picoult wraps her advocacy in fiction. Better fiction than Brown’s. Modern parallel story is equally satisfying and frustrating—intentionally—despite it being her hand puppet for data dumps and lectures. "Explosives. Opioids. Nuclear weapons. None of them could hold a candle to hope, the most dangerous commodity in the world." Loved the story but miss the subtlety of Picoult’s earlier works. Could be dozens of pages shorter if Picoult resisted the urge to explain everything. Occasionally two or three times. To assure you get it, she underlines key points. Let the reader figure it out. The first hundred pages are the worst, so stick with it. Wanted to rate it higher—even read the book a second time—but while the story is great the storytelling isn’t quite. “I can’t believe you’re quoting Shakespeare to convince me.” “I’m quoting Emilia Bassano.” “Just think, two weeks ago you only wanted a play produced. Now you want biblical vengeance.” “I’m an overachiever.” Quibbles? The veneer over her agenda is occasionally transparent. Of course it’s agenda-driven; isn’t most art? (Agenda are like noses: we all have them but see our own less than others.) Even though I agree with some of her polemics, they’re still polemics. Hard sell; Soft pornography; coarse language. You’re warned. "Being named was important. It gave you credit for the work you put into the world, but it also held you responsible for your words and deeds when you hurt the people you loved, even inadvertently."

I am an English teacher’s daughter. I grew up knowing the storylines of the great places — I even had a Camelot coloring book. I have always enjoyed Jodi Picoult so of course with her on the driver’s seat and Shakespeare in the story I was intrigued. There are portion of the novel I loved, others I was forcing myself through, and moments when I wondered if I’d actually finish it. The novel is the story of Emilia from the Elizabethan era and one of the presumed authors of the work attributed to Shakespeare (for the story anyway) It is also the story of Melina, a struggling New York playwright. Both stories follow the relationships of these women, the obstacles they face from society, and the influences of different men in their relationships. The situations hundreds of years apart are parallel and at times it is sad to think how much has not changed. While I enjoyed Emilia’s story, I reluctantly sludged through it at times. The language and descriptions are incredible but get overwhelming and over the top. I just wanted to know what happened. And in the end after living so many moments with her we are rushed through her final twenty years. I appreciated that we got an ending to her story but at this point, while I appreciated the levity of pages I felt short changed. By the same token, I would have liked a bit more of Melina’s story and then too after hundreds of pages of story, I am dropped three years into the future and it’s all wrapped up (but in a good way) Be prepared to invest time to the reading and to be a bit irritated by the time it will take but also be prepared to enjoy as Melina (Emilia) find their voice

I cannot express how much I loved this book!!! So interesting! Switching back to the 1500's and 1600's to current times was awesome!

2024年8月発表のJ. Picoult最新作。 1600年を挟んで実在したシェークスピアの女性ゴーストライター候補Emilia、その子孫で自分も劇作家を目指す現代女性Melina、その彼女がEmiliaを主人公として書いた芝居の脚本、更にはEmiliaが書いた詩まで出て来ます。 英語が過去と現在で違い、また詩や演劇の脚本も小説とは違う上に、話が混み入ってややこしく、読み進めるのに相当な忍耐が必要です。私はダメで今までほぼ1年掛かりました。 果たしてそこまで手を広げてややこしくする必要があったのか甚だ疑問で、リベラルな思想をベースに「大御所」を目指して高尚な作風・作品を志向したのではと邪推したくもなります。 ラストに炸裂する渾身のサプライズ一発に賭けた初期の作風が懐かしいです。

Having never read this author’s previous books, I am impressed with the diversity of characters and settings. I enjoyed moving between centuries and societal norms while following the two main characters of this book; both strong women. I am still reading this book and expect to love it to the very last page.

Some might think this a somewhat girlie book, given that it uses the modern fashionable concept of "timeslip" as majored by Barbara Erskine and Kate Mosse, both of whom are adept at seemingly effortlessly entwining a modern heroine with an episode from the deep past. This one adds something extra - meticulous historical research into the lesser known personal life of William Shakespeare. The idea that Emilia Bassano, widely regarded as the original "Dark Lady" of Shakespeare's sonnets, wrote all or most of his actual plays, is not new. This novel effortlessly convinces that she did indeed write the plays. Actual episodes from her life which are on the historical record are identified in numerous Shakespeare plays as well. The historical detail is well researched and accurate, satisfying to the demanding reader, and Emilia comes across as a vibrant and convincing Tudor woman. Her life contained great pain and tragedy which is conveyed with feeling but not sentimental. The modern narrative likewise portrays a convincing heroine who is battling against male prejudice in a definite parallel to the past. I loved this book, and think it a great addition to my library of historical novels.

Très passionnant

I find the story of Emilia fascinating. I loved to learn more about the 16th century in England. Women suffered much entirely dependent on the men they were married to. The parallel story of Mel felt in some sequences constructed and too long. It explains how Shakespeare came to claim to be an author of plays in places he had never been to.