Summary
Jodi Picoult's By Any Other Name is a captivating novel that intertwines the stories of two ambitious women separated by centuries. This New York Times bestseller explores the challenges faced by female writers in both Elizabethan England and the present day, highlighting the enduring struggle for recognition in a male-dominated literary world.
At the heart of the novel is the controversial theory that Emilia Bassano, a 16th-century poet, may have been the true author of Shakespeare's plays. Picoult's meticulous research brings this historical figure to life, offering readers a compelling reimagining of Bassano's potential role in creating some of the most celebrated works in English literature.
Plot
In Jodi Picoult's novel By Any Other Name, two women separated by centuries grapple with the challenges of being female writers in male-dominated societies. The story alternates between Melina Green, a modern-day playwright, and her ancestor Emilia Bassano, a 16th-century poet and possible ghostwriter for William Shakespeare.
Melina has just completed a play inspired by Emilia's life, but faces an uphill battle in getting it produced due to gender bias in the theater world. Uncertain about risking another failure, Melina's best friend takes matters into her own hands and submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym, setting the stage for a complex exploration of authorship and identity.
Meanwhile, in 1581, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats, educated but silenced like most women of her era. Her circumstances lead her to become the mistress of the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theater productions in England. Witnessing the power of playwrights to move audiences, Emilia hatches a daring plan to bring her own work to the stage by secretly paying an actor named William Shakespeare to present it as his own.
As the parallel stories unfold, both Melina and Emilia must navigate the prejudices of their respective times while pursuing their passion for writing. The novel delves into the lengths these women are willing to go to ensure their stories are heard, raising questions about the nature of authorship, the price of ambition, and the enduring struggle for female voices to be recognized in the arts.
Themes
Gender inequality in the literary world
The power of authorship and creative expression
Historical erasure of women's contributions
Challenges faced by female writers across centuries
The use of pseudonyms as a means of survival and success
Parallel struggles of women in different time periods
The enduring impact of Shakespeare's legacy
Setting
The novel By Any Other Name is set across two distinct time periods, interweaving narratives from the present day and Elizabethan England. The contemporary storyline follows Melina Green, a young playwright living in modern-day America, likely in a major city with a thriving theater scene.
The historical narrative takes place in 16th century England, primarily in London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This era, known as the Elizabethan period, was a time of great cultural and literary flourishing. The story focuses on Emilia Bassano, a real historical figure who moves within the aristocratic circles of London society and becomes intimately connected to the theater world of the time.
While specific locations are not extensively detailed in the available descriptions, readers can expect vivid depictions of Elizabethan London, including the bustling theater district and the opulent homes of the aristocracy. The contrast between this historical setting and the modern-day scenes creates a compelling backdrop for exploring themes of ambition, gender roles, and artistic expression across centuries.
Characters
Melina Green: A young contemporary playwright who has written a play inspired by her Elizabethan ancestor, Emilia Bassano. She faces challenges in getting her work performed due to gender bias in the theater world. Melina's story explores themes of ambition, identity, and the struggles faced by women in the arts.
Emilia Bassano: A 16th-century woman who becomes the secret author behind Shakespeare's plays. She is educated, witty, and gifted in storytelling, but constrained by the societal norms of her time. Emilia's journey highlights the historical challenges faced by women in literature and the arts.
William Shakespeare: The famous playwright who, in this fictional account, serves as a front for Emilia's work. His role in the story explores themes of authorship and the nature of creative collaboration in Elizabethan theater.
Lord Chamberlain: Emilia's patron and the overseer of theater productions in England. His relationship with Emilia provides insight into the power dynamics and societal expectations of the Elizabethan era.
Melina's Best Friend: This character takes initiative by submitting Melina's play to a festival under a male pseudonym, catalyzing the contemporary storyline.
Quick facts
Jodi Picoult has described By Any Other Name as “a story about how women have been written out of history by the men who were writing it [and] how women’s voices were silenced in the past and are still being silenced today.”
Picoult was inspired to write the novel after reading an article in The Atlantic speculating on whether Shakespeare’s plays were written by a woman.
By Any Other Name has two parallel storylines about women playwrights—one set in 1581 London, focused on Emilia Bassano, and the other set in 2024 New York City, focused on Emilia’s ancestor, Melina Green.
Emilia Bassano is a real-life historical figure, a 16th-century playwright and poet who published the first book of poetry by a woman in England.
Emilia Bassano came from an Italian family of musicians discovered and brought to the royal court by King Henry VIII.
Like the rest of her family, Emilia Bassano was a “hidden Jew” who couldn’t show her faith in public.
At age seven, Emilia Bassano became the ward of a countess who gave her an extensive legal and classical education—a rarity for women at the time.
At 13, Emilia Bassano became the mistress to Lord Chamberlain, with whom she worked closely for 10 years in overseeing England’s theater productions and vetting the work of playwrights.
Published in 2024, By Any Other Name was a New York Times bestseller and an Amazon Editors’ pick for Best Book of the Year.
About the Author
Jodi Picoult (1966-) is an American author of contemporary fiction exploring complex social issues and moral dilemmas, ranging from race relations to assisted suicide. Her novels—29 to date, including numerous #1 New York Times bestsellers—have sold close to 40 million copies worldwide, with translations into 34 languages.
Born on New York’s Long Island, Picoult wrote her first story, titled “The Lobster Which Misunderstood,” at age five. She studied creative writing at Princeton University, publishing two short stories in Seventeen magazine while still in college. After graduation, she worked in a variety of jobs, from editing textbooks to teaching eighth-grade English. Inspired by the examples of her mother and grandmother, both dedicated teachers, she went on to earn a master's degree in education from Harvard University.
Picoult launched her career as an author in 1992 with her debut novel, Songs of Humpback Whale. In 2007, she published her first novels to debut at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, Nineteen Minutes, about the aftermath of a school shooting in a small town. Her acclaimed and popular novels also include Handle with Care (2009), House Rules (2010), Leaving Time (2014), Small Great Things (2016), A Spark of Light (2018), The Book of Two Ways (2020), Mad Honey (2022), and By Any Other Name (2024). Several of her novels, including The Pact (1998) and My Sister’s Keeper (2004), have been adapted for film. She has also written numerous short stories and published one collection, Leaving Home (2011).
Jodi Picoult has been recognized for her writing with the New England Bookseller Award for Fiction, the American Library Association’s Alex Award, and the New Hampshire Literary Award. In addition to her adult fiction, she collaborated with her daughter Samantha van Leer on two young adult novels, Between the Lines (2012) and Off the Page (2016). Based in New Hampshire, Picoult maintains an active online presence, engaging with her fans through various social media platforms.
