By Any Other Name

For those who love WOMEN, Historical Fiction, and Shakespeare's (alleged!) words, Jodi Picoult's latest work is a thought-provoking journey. It alternates between Elizabethan England and Modern-Day New York, introducing two female playwrights. Though separated by centuries, their stories are bound by a common struggle—to break through a male-dominated society and bring their work to the public. This book is not just an incredible read but an inspiration and an ode to the enduring power of the human spirit.

In the 1590s, Emilia Bassano was a ward to a countess who gave her an extensive classical and legal education; at thirteen, she was sold to Lord Chamberlain by her cousin to be his mistress. Lord Chamberlain was in charge of vetting all the plays in England, giving Emilia exposure to the world of theatre and a decade of writing and analyzing plays. Ten years later, she falls pregnant, is ousted from his home, and is married off to a horrid weasel of a cousin. I forgot to mention that Emilia had a very steamy love affair throughout her early life that kept her going despite what she had to endure. She published the first book of poetry by a woman in England, and some people believe (Jodi Picoult, first and foremost) that she might have supplied Shakespeare with much of his work.

Four hundred years later, Melina Green continues to try to garner interest in her play about Emilia Bassano, which she wrote after discovering that she is a distant relative. Her best friend submits her play under the name 'Mel,' and Melina must decide whether she will hide behind a man's name to get her play in front of the public, just like her ancestor.

Four hundred years later, the themes of this book remain painfully relevant. The struggle for women's voices to be heard and their rights to be recognized is not just an ongoing battle but an urgent one that we must continue to fight.

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