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By Any Other Name

Written by: Jodi Picoult
Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown, Laura Benanti, Jodi Picoult, Jayne Entwistle, Andrew Fallaize, Joe Jameson, John Lee, Nicholas Guy Smith, Simon Vance, Steve West
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Publisher's Summary

From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Mad Honey comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.

“You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel.”—Kristin Hannah, author of The Women

Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely, in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. As Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, her best friend takes the decision out of her hands and submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym.

In 1581, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her lessons on languages, history, and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but like most women of her day, she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theatre productions in England, Emilia sees firsthand how the words of playwrights can move an audience. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage—by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work.

Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name, a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on . . . no matter the cost? This remarkable novel, rooted in primary historical sources, ensures the name Emilia Bassano will no longer be forgotten.

This audiobook contains a bonus PDF with Shakespearean references, Sources and Resources, and an image from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Jodi Picoult (P)2024 Random House Audio
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What the critics say

“You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life in her brilliantly researched new novel. Jodi Picoult’s books always start passionate conversations, and this one is sure to get people talking. Book clubs will embrace this rich, inspiring story.”—Kristin Hannah

“A blend of historical fiction and modern-day settings, the novel gives us timelines that intertwine and surprise. . . . This one is definitely for fans of Shakespeare’s work; Picoult has done her research.”Harper’s Bazaar

“Perennial best-seller Picoult takes on another hot-button topic sure to ignite controversy and conversation: the question of Shakespearean authorship. . . . [A] timely and affecting tale. . . . Picoult’s many, many fans will pounce on her latest incisive, pot-stirring tale, while the Shakespearean theme will attract even more readers.”Booklist, starred review

What listeners say about By Any Other Name

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Fantastic and Moving

This historical fiction was fantastic. I found it took a Chapter to get gripped by the tale but once gripped I couldn't stop listening. As a woman I was moved by the changes, and stagnancies, of the experience of women across the hundreds of years. I loved the storyline weaving back and forth from Elizabethan times to present/future.

This is a book that will spur discussion, and hopefully help move women foreward once again. Amazing women have always existed, as have Amazing BIPOC, amazing LGBTQ people and amazing men. We have spent so much time studying the men... I love how this book looks at all of the others.

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Keep listening

It took me a couple of chapters to get into it, especially the throwback story. I am glad I finished it because I loved it !

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Disappointed


I agree with Picoult’s hypothesis and I think it was a great idea for the book. I appreciate how well researched her books are. I am now an Emilia Bassano convert!

What I disliked though was the character, Melina. I found her to be lacking and a bit naive… I also think she could’ve made André original and a well-rounded individual instead of leaning on the stereotypical gay best friend persona always portrayed in media.

Additionally, I definitely struggled with the narration and the accent attempts. It was hard to focus on the story with this narration.

Although I’ve loved so many of Picoult’s books, the quality of writing with this one just fell flat.

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Story can be very heavy handed, predictable

This was my first Jodi Picoult novel, so I worry it’s like waking up from a coma and deciding you don’t like Taylor Swift, but I found this book very hard to get through. The story was so heavy handed, and predictable, and sometimes I thought, ok, maybe that’s deliberate, since it’s obviously centered around Shakespeare, and the plots in the plays aren’t exactly subtle. But then even that premise gets explicitly set out in the novel - i.e. “oh my goodness, the character thought, my life is playing out like a Shakespeare play”. The book hits you with a constant barrage of Shakespeare-esque plot points, for hours upon hours, that you pretty much always see coming, also for hours. Also, fair warning, there is an inordinate amount of sexual violence. Which, if you listen to the authors note at the end, was apparently not part of the meticulous historical research, but added largely for colour? So, yay.

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