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A review by anabel_unker
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
5.0
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Jodi Picoult has never missed for me. Her books are consistantly amazing-- the characters, the perspectives (typically dual), the plot, and the activism. BY ANY OTHER NAME tackles sexism and racism in the modern day, as well as treatment of women during the 16th and 17th century. Picoult seamlessly blends together the stories of Melina "Mel" Green and Emilia Bassano, descendent and ancestor respectively.
Melina, a struggling playwright in modern-day New York, discovers her ancestor Emilia Bassano-- the first published female poet in England. After researching Emilia intriguing life, Melina decides to write a play based on the idea that Emilia wrote some of Shakespeare's most renowned plays-- but was unable to publish her work under her own name due to her sex.
Emilia's life story is one of hardship, heartache, and longing-- but also of grit, determination, and passion. Raised and educated as a lady above her family's life station as court musicians, Emilia is sold at the age of thirteen to Lord Chamberlain to be his mistresses. Forced to hide her true life's passion, writing poetry and plays, Emilia struggles to find her place in the gilded cage of high society. When given the opportunity to sell her work to the opportunistic William Shakespeare, Emilia takes the chance to see her work on London's stage.
BY ANY OTHER NAME is, at its core, a story about defying societal norms and having the courage to chase what brings you joy. I truly enjoyed this departure into historical fiction from Picoult, and am incredibly impressed by the amount of research for this novel. This book, perfect for fans of historical fiction, shed light on a questions many literature fans shy away from-- what if what we know about Shakespeare isn't true?
Jodi Picoult has never missed for me. Her books are consistantly amazing-- the characters, the perspectives (typically dual), the plot, and the activism. BY ANY OTHER NAME tackles sexism and racism in the modern day, as well as treatment of women during the 16th and 17th century. Picoult seamlessly blends together the stories of Melina "Mel" Green and Emilia Bassano, descendent and ancestor respectively.
Melina, a struggling playwright in modern-day New York, discovers her ancestor Emilia Bassano-- the first published female poet in England. After researching Emilia intriguing life, Melina decides to write a play based on the idea that Emilia wrote some of Shakespeare's most renowned plays-- but was unable to publish her work under her own name due to her sex.
Emilia's life story is one of hardship, heartache, and longing-- but also of grit, determination, and passion. Raised and educated as a lady above her family's life station as court musicians, Emilia is sold at the age of thirteen to Lord Chamberlain to be his mistresses. Forced to hide her true life's passion, writing poetry and plays, Emilia struggles to find her place in the gilded cage of high society. When given the opportunity to sell her work to the opportunistic William Shakespeare, Emilia takes the chance to see her work on London's stage.
BY ANY OTHER NAME is, at its core, a story about defying societal norms and having the courage to chase what brings you joy. I truly enjoyed this departure into historical fiction from Picoult, and am incredibly impressed by the amount of research for this novel. This book, perfect for fans of historical fiction, shed light on a questions many literature fans shy away from-- what if what we know about Shakespeare isn't true?