By Jodi Picoult.
By Any Other Name is a beautifully crafted book that intertwines the lives of two women separated by centuries but united in their struggle to make their voices heard in a male-dominated world.
Young playwright Melina Green, grappling with grief and rejection in the modern theatre industry, and Emilia Bassano, a talented Elizabethan woman forced to hide her creative ambitions, both face prejudice and societal constraints as they fight to bring their stories to life.
In the present day, Melina is a playwright in New York, inspired by the life of her ancestor, Emilia Bassano. However, her journey in theatre is fraught with challenges. After enduring criticism and sexism in the industry, Melina loses hope of seeing her latest play performed. But her best friend Andre, a gay Black man, takes matters into his own hands and submits her work to a festival under a male pseudonym. When the play wins, Melina must navigate a web of lies, harsh critics, and powerful producers who threaten to strip her of the credit she deserves.
In the past, Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats in the 1580s. Despite her brilliance in languages and storytelling, her gender denies her the recognition her talents deserve. Forced to become the mistress of the Lord Chamberlain, Emilia secretly writes a play and conspires with a young actor named William Shakespeare to present it as his own. This compromise, however, comes with its own set of moral and emotional struggles as Emilia longs for acknowledgement of her work.
Rooted in historical detail, By Any Other Name seamlessly blends historical fiction with women’s fiction, tackling themes of ambition, resilience, and the enduring impact of inequality. The book highlights the parallels between Melina and Emilia’s struggles, showing how little has changed in the battle for equal representation and recognition in creative industries.
Melina’s storyline is particularly engaging, drawing readers into her journey of growth and self-discovery. Emilia’s tale, meanwhile, is both inspiring and poignant, shedding light on the sacrifices women had to make to pursue their passions in the past.
This is a thought-provoking, heartfelt book that pays tribute to the countless women whose voices and talents were silenced by societal norms.
A must-read for fans of inspirational women’s fiction and those seeking stories that celebrate courage and creativity across time.
Thank you so much to the author - Jodi Picoult, as well as both teams at Tandem Collective UK and Penguin Michael Joseph, for running this book tour.
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