What’s in a name? For Emilia Bassano in 1581 and Melina Green in present-day New York, everything. In her latest historical fiction novel “By Any Other Name,” bestselling author Jodi Picoult weaves together the stories of two female playwrights separated by centuries but united in their struggle to have their voices heard in a male-dominated world. With her trademark blend of meticulous research and emotional storytelling, Picoult delivers a poignant exploration of ambition, identity, and the timeless question: how much of ourselves are we willing to sacrifice for our art?
A Shakespearean Mystery for the #MeToo Era
At its heart, “By Any Other Name” is a love letter to the theater and the transformative power of words. But it’s also a scathing indictment of the systemic barriers that have silenced women’s voices throughout history. Picoult skillfully uses the controversy surrounding Shakespeare’s true identity as a backdrop to examine issues that feel startlingly relevant today: gender discrimination, artistic integrity, and the steep price of success.
The novel alternates between two timelines:
- Elizabethan England, where we follow the brilliant and ambitious Emilia Bassano as she becomes the mistress of the Lord Chamberlain and secretly writes some of the most celebrated plays in the English language.
- Modern-day New York, where struggling playwright Melina Green faces eerily similar challenges as she tries to break into the still male-dominated world of professional theater.
Emilia: The Bard Behind the Beard?
Picoult’s depiction of Emilia Bassano is nothing short of captivating. A woman of Italian-Jewish descent in a time of rampant anti-Semitism, Emilia is a cultural outsider with a keen intellect and an irrepressible creative spirit. Forced into the role of courtesan to survive, she uses her position to gain unprecedented access to the world of theater. But in a society where women are property and female authorship is unthinkable, Emilia must make an impossible choice: claim credit for her work and risk everything, or let a man take the glory and watch her words live on.
Picoult’s Emilia is fierce, flawed, and utterly human. Her inner struggle between ambition and self-preservation is heart-wrenching. We feel her frustration as she watches inferior male playwrights gain fame while she toils in obscurity. We cheer as she finds clever ways to leave her mark on the plays, inserting references to her own life and beliefs. And we ache as she grapples with the knowledge that history may never know her name.
Melina: Fighting the Same Battle, 400 Years Later
In the present-day storyline, Melina Green is Emilia’s spiritual successor. A talented playwright who’s faced years of rejection, Melina finally gets her big break when her play about Emilia Bassano is accepted into a prestigious festival. The catch? The artistic director assumes “Mel Green” is a man, and Melina decides to play along, enlisting her best friend Andre to pose as the playwright.
Melina’s journey is both frustrating and darkly comic. Picoult deftly illustrates how, despite centuries of progress, women in the arts still face an uphill battle. The casual sexism Melina encounters—from male critics, producers, and even well-meaning allies—is infuriating precisely because it feels so familiar. Her moral dilemma mirrors Emilia’s: is it better to succeed under false pretenses or risk obscurity by revealing the truth?
A Master Class in Historical Fiction
Picoult’s research shines throughout the novel. The Elizabethan sections are rich with period detail, from the sights and smells of London to the intricacies of court politics. She brings to life historical figures like Lord Hunsdon, Christopher Marlowe, and the Earl of Southampton with nuance and complexity.
But it’s her treatment of William Shakespeare that’s truly fascinating. Without definitively claiming Emilia as the “real” Shakespeare, Picoult presents a compelling case for how a woman of her background and education could have written the plays. She explores the gaps in Shakespeare’s biography and the inconsistencies in his knowledge, weaving a tantalizing alternate history that will have readers questioning everything they thought they knew about the Bard.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Picoult’s greatest strength has always been her ability to make readers empathize with complex moral dilemmas, and “By Any Other Name” is no exception. Both Emilia and Melina’s choices feel achingly real and understandable, even when we disagree with them. The parallel structure of the two timelines is effective, highlighting how little has changed for women in the arts over four centuries.
The prose is engaging and often beautiful, particularly in Emilia’s sections. Picoult captures the rhythms of Elizabethan speech without making it feel stilted or inaccessible to modern readers. Her descriptions of the creative process—the rush of inspiration, the agony of writer’s block—will resonate with anyone who’s ever tried to put words to paper.
If there’s a weakness, it’s that the present-day storyline occasionally feels less developed than the historical one. Melina is a compelling character, but some of the supporting cast in her timeline (particularly the male characters) can feel a bit one-dimensional compared to the richly drawn figures in Emilia’s world.
A Timely Message
“By Any Other Name” is more than just a historical mystery or a behind-the-scenes look at the theater world. It’s a rallying cry for women’s voices to be heard and celebrated. Picoult doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of sexism, both historical and contemporary, but she also offers hope. Through Emilia and Melina’s determination to tell their stories, we see the resilience of the female spirit and the power of art to transcend time and social barriers.
Verdict: A Must-Read for Shakespeare Fans and Feminists Alike
Jodi Picoult has once again proven why she’s one of the most beloved authors of our time. “By Any Other Name” is a triumph—a thought-provoking, emotionally resonant novel that will linger in readers’ minds long after they turn the final page. It’s a book that demands to be discussed, debated, and shared.
Whether you’re a Shakespeare buff, a theater enthusiast, or simply someone who loves a good story about women fighting to be heard, this novel has something for you. Picoult challenges us to question our assumptions about history, authorship, and the stories we choose to tell. In doing so, she’s created a work that feels both timeless and urgently relevant to our current moment.
For Fans Of:
- “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell
- “The Weight of Ink” by Rachel Kadish
- “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood
- Picoult’s previous historical fiction works like “The Book of Two Ways” and “The Storyteller”
About the Author:
Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-eight novels, including “Wish You Were Here,” “Small Great Things,” “Leaving Time,” and “My Sister’s Keeper.” Her books have been translated into thirty-four languages in thirty-five countries. Four novels have been made into movies and “Between the Lines” has been adapted as a musical. Picoult is the recipient of multiple awards, including the New England Independent Booksellers Association’s New England Book Award for Fiction. She holds honorary doctor of letters degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of New Haven.
Final Thoughts:
“By Any Other Name” is a reminder of why we tell stories in the first place – to connect, to challenge, and to change the world. It’s a love letter to the power of words and the women who have fought to wield them. In giving voice to Emilia Bassano and Melina Green, Jodi Picoult has created a story that demands to be heard. Don’t miss this one.
