By Any Other Name
Fiction & Poetry, Modern & Contemporary Fiction | Paperback Published on: 05/06/2025
£9.99
Bookseller Reviews
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Fascinating feminist fiction!
I hadn't heard of Emilia Bassano before or the idea that a female author could have written some of Shakespeares work, I'm glad that Jodi Picoult has put t... READ MORE
Fresh and Exciting!
I found myself unable to put down Picoult’s latest novel, with a dual perspective that had me interested in the stories of both women and their personal st... READ MORE
A necessary tale to be told that will leave you reflecting on history
As someone who was absolutely and utterly obsessed with the Theatre movement that brought us Hamilton, Six and Emilia!, of course I was desperate to get my... READ MORE
A powerful retelling
This story is so unlike Jodi's others, yet like her others it has consumed me. My time has been lost to reading this book. The story of Shakespeare is chal... READ MORE
Synopsis
**PRE-ORDER NOW – THE DAZZLING NEW NOVEL FROM MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR JODI PICOULT**
The #1 New York Times Bestseller
'Her best one yet' JOJO MOYES
'A timeless classic' CHRIS WHITAKER
****
Student playwright Melina Green finds that even in New York, her words will struggle to make the stage, when the power is held by men. Inspired by the life of her ancestor Emilia Bassano, a gifted and witty storyteller herself, Melina takes a lesson from history, and submits a play under a male pseudonym . . .
As Melina discovers more of Emilia’s extraordinary life in Elizabethan England, she is determined to right the wrongs of the past – and finally tell her story.
Two women – centuries apart – are both forced to hide behind another name.
But can either make their voices heard?
'Stunning. So interesting, clever, educational and moving. One of the best books I've read in recent times' GILLIAN McALLISTER
'Had me absolutely captivated . . . I loved all the questions this novel raised about who gets to tell which stories and how complex that can become. Jodi Picoult is a genius' JENNIFER SAINT
'[An] inspiring work of feminist literature' ELLE
PRAISE FOR JODI PICOULT
'A writer the world needs to be reading right now' Independent
'It is hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes' Financial Times
'She is the master of her craft' Daily Telegraph
'There are writers who try and do what Picoult does, and then there's Picoult' Marie Claire
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9781405961899
- Number of pages: 400
- Weight: 500g
- Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 35 mm
Customer Reviews
View allSimulacrum with historic twist, with an important message
I have to admit, this is my first time reading anything by Jodi Picoult. I know, I know – late to the party. But what do they say? Better late than never, ... READ MORE
Fascinating and enjoyable book
When i heard about By Any Other name, i was not sure about the story. It seemed a little unbelievable that Shakespeare didn't write his plays. I heard Jodi... READ MORE
Loved it!
Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy.
I must first say that I absolutely love the cover of the proof copy I have just read.
The storyli... READ MORE
Fabulous author, fabulous speaker!
You really MUST read this book - as well as other books by this author. I went to listen to Jodi Piccoult at the Hay Festival and I cannot stress how inspi... READ MORE
So well researched and equally thought provoking
I am most likely in the minority but I didn’t know of the theories around Shakespeare prior to picking this book up, this book definitely does the job of s... READ MORE
Enjoyable read
This is such an enjoyable read. It’s quite different from the author’s other books and style but still a great read, especially if you love historical fic... READ MORE
The story explores William Shakespeare's legacy!
Emilia Bassano becomes the Lord Chamberlain's mistress at a very young age, she goes to the theatre with him in London, England, and secretly she writes he... READ MORE
Who was Shakespeare, really
I loved the story of Emilia Bassano, who wrote even when she had to give up authorship to do so because of the time she lived in. I loved her courage to ta... READ MORE
Disappointing book from a wonderful author
2.5 stars
A failed playwright discovers she’s related to the 16th-century woman rumored to be the real talent behind Shakespeare’s work. The playwright ... READ MORE
My favourite Jodi Picoult novel so far!
I loved reading this book and enjoyed switching between the historical and modern settings and characters. I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan, but for this boo... READ MORE
Historical fiction from Picoult
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult is a historical fiction novel about Emilia Bassano, who struggled as a Jewish orphan in the 1500s. She is sold as a mistr... READ MORE
A compelling thought provoking essential read
Whilst this book took me a while to get used to the style in which it was written (it cleverly switches from modern day Manhattan to Elizabethan times), on... READ MORE
By Any Other Name
I am a bit of a fan of this author, admittedly I discovered her late and am still working my way through her back catalogue. But I am also jumping on every... READ MORE
Thought provoking intro into the Shakespeare authorship question
Separated by over 400-years, By Any Other Name tells the story of two female writers, real life figure, Emilia Bassano, and her fictional descendant Melina... READ MORE
Fascinating tale
I have been a fan of Jodi Picoult work and I was looking forward to reading this. At first, I was surprised and apprehensive as it completely different sty... READ MORE
Too long, not my cup of tea
Having read all this authors other books, I was really looking forward to this one. However, it was just not my cup of tea. I don’t mind “different timelin... READ MORE
Compelling
Set in historical sixteenth and seventeenth century, and modern day times chapters.
Emilia Bassano in 1581 is aged twelve. Young Emilia’s life is about to... READ MORE
Did Shakespeare really write those plays and sonnets or was it a woman?
The story flips between Shakespeare’s time and the modern day, where two smart women are trying to get their work known and performed. Lives were short the... READ MORE
Interesting premise
Melina is a young playwright in New York. Her ancestor is Emilia Bassano, one of the first female poets. As Emilia researches her she becomes convinced tha... READ MORE
Powerful historical fiction
This is the story of two women, set in two timelines, who are trying to prove themselves in a man’s world! In the present we meet playwright Melina Green ... READ MORE
Jodi Picoult's best ever
I've read some of Jodi P's books which are all very enjoyable but this book is on a completely new level. Having heard J P speak at the Hay Festival it was... READ MORE
Brilliant!
I’ve been a huge fan of Jodi Picoult for as long as she’s been writing. It was such a fantastic experience to hear Jodi speak at the Hay Festival this year... READ MORE
By Any Other Name
I am a lover of Shakespeare and had my reservations about the subject matter. Having said that I am also a fan of Jodi Picoult’s work, having read a number... READ MORE
sure to polarise readers
“It wasn’t until she took a playwriting course that she realized the only thing mightier than giving a stellar performance was being the person who crafted... READ MORE
Captivating read
By Any Other Name is a thought provoking fascinating story that combines historical fiction and strong determined women that is extremely well researched.
... READ MORE
An unexpected novel from Jodi Picoult
I enjoyed the dual narrative: Emilia in the 16th/17th century and Melina - Emilia's descendent - in modern times.
So if Shakespeare didn't write his pla... READ MORE
Dual timeline story about female authorship in Elizabethan England and modern-day USA
I thank NetGalley and Michael Joseph/Penguin Random House for providing me an ARC copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.
This is not the first... READ MORE
In awe
I got this book and then slightly regretted it. I realised I wasn’t sure I wanted to question William Shakespeare’s legacy. I’m so glad that I made myself ... READ MORE
An embroidered exposé of male literature
I’m a big fan of the middle period of Picoult’s novels, but I haven’t enjoyed the more recent books. However, I could not put this one down. This is not th... READ MORE
Such a cool concept and well executed
I really enjoyed this book, more than I was expecting to - and I was expecting to like it! I’m a sucker for historical fiction that reimagines the usual st... READ MORE
Not for me
I'm in a minority here, I know. If I'd ever read any Picoult before I guess I'd've known this was likely to be chick-lit and not bought it. But I've studie... READ MORE
So clever
I have really enjoyed many of Jodi Picoult's books, and this is up there with the best of them. This is a book calculated to make you think. If someone tol... READ MORE
What an extraordinary story!
What an extraordinary story!
Melina Green, a struggling playwright, is sent ancestry notes by her father. He’s traced their family tree back to the fift... READ MORE
Such a good read!
Something you need to know about me is that I LOVE Jodi Picoult. After I read Nineteen Minutes by her, I was hooked. Her writing is phenomenal - in my opin... READ MORE
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