A Shakespearean Twist on Female Ambition
In her latest novel “By Any Other Name,” bestselling author Jodi Picoult serves up a delicious literary feast, blending historical fiction with contemporary drama to explore the timeless struggles of women fighting to make their voices heard. With her trademark ability to tackle complex issues through compelling characters, Picoult weaves together the stories of two ambitious female writers separated by four centuries but united in their passion for the written word.
At its heart, this is a story about the power of language, the weight of secrets, and the lengths we’ll go to see our dreams realized—even if it means erasing ourselves from history. Picoult’s dual narrative structure keeps readers riveted as we toggle between Elizabethan England and modern-day New York City, drawing fascinating parallels between the challenges faced by women then and now.
Plot Summary: From Shakespeare’s Time to Today
Emilia’s Tale: The Hidden Hand Behind Shakespeare
In 1581, we meet young Emilia Bassano, a sharp-witted and fiercely intelligent woman born into a family of Italian musicians at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Despite her natural talents, Emilia finds herself stifled by the rigid gender roles of her time. When she becomes the mistress of the powerful Lord Chamberlain, Emilia gains unprecedented access to the burgeoning world of English theater.
Burning with creative passion but unable to write openly as a woman, Emilia makes a Faustian bargain: she’ll pen brilliant plays under the name of a mediocre male actor named William Shakespeare, sacrificing recognition for the chance to see her words brought to life on stage. As “Shakespeare’s” reputation grows, Emilia must grapple with the pain of watching another claim credit for her life’s work.
Melina’s Modern Struggle: Echoes of the Past
Flash forward to present-day New York City, where we find Melina Green, an aspiring playwright and distant descendant of Emilia Bassano. Despite centuries of supposed progress, Melina faces many of the same obstacles as her ancestors—a theater world dominated by men, dismissive of women’s stories.
When Melina pens a play inspired by Emilia’s life, she finds herself tempted to use a male pseudonym to increase her chances of success. As opening night approaches, Melina must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to see her work performed.
Themes: The More Things Change…
Picoult deftly explores how the challenges facing creative women have both evolved and remained frustratingly stagnant over the centuries. Key themes include:
The Power of Language
Both Emilia and Melina find liberation through writing, using words as weapons against a world intent on silencing them. Picoult’s own mastery of language shines through in the plays-within-the-novel, channeling Shakespearean verse with impressive skill.
Identity and Authenticity
Our protagonists struggle with the dissonance between their true selves and the masks they must wear to succeed. The novel asks: at what point does compromise become a betrayal of self?
Gender Politics in the Arts
From the overt misogyny of Elizabethan England to the more insidious sexism of today’s entertainment industry, Picoult lays bare how little has changed for women fighting to tell their stories.
The Weight of History
Emilia’s choices echo through time, shaping not just her own fate but that of her descendants. Melina must reckon with this complicated legacy as she forges her own path.
Character Development: Complex Women Taking Center Stage
Emilia: A Renaissance Rebel
Picoult brings Emilia Bassano vividly to life, painting her as a woman both of her time and ahead of it. Brilliant, passionate, and deeply conflicted, Emilia leaps off the page. Her inner struggle between ambition and self-preservation feels achingly real. As she navigates the treacherous waters of Elizabethan court life, we root for Emilia even as we wince at the compromises she’s forced to make.
Melina: A Modern Woman Wrestling with the Past
In Melina, Picoult has crafted a thoroughly contemporary heroine still haunted by echoes of the past. Her journey of self-discovery as she delves into Emilia’s story is compelling. Melina’s relationships—with her best friend/roommate Andre, with the acerbic theater critic Jasper Tolle, with her own sense of self—evolve in satisfying ways throughout the novel.
Writing Style: Picoult at the Height of Her Powers
Longtime Picoult fans will find much to love here, as the author flexes her considerable literary muscles. Her prose is, as always, highly readable yet richly textured. The historical sections sing with period detail, while the contemporary storyline crackles with witty dialogue.
Picoult’s greatest feat may be her ability to authentically channel Shakespeare’s voice in the play excerpts scattered throughout “By Any Other Name”. These passages feel true to the Bard’s style while still advancing Picoult’s own narrative and thematic goals.
Historical Accuracy: Fact Meets Fiction
Picoult has clearly done her homework, grounding Emilia’s story in meticulous research. The Elizabethan sections feel fully realized, from the political intrigues of court life to the gritty realities of London’s theater scene.
That said, Picoult takes some justified liberties with the historical record to serve her narrative. The “Shakespeare authorship question” remains hotly debated by scholars, and while Emilia Bassano is a real historical figure sometimes proposed as a potential Shakespeare candidate, there’s no concrete evidence she wrote his plays.
Picoult acknowledges this upfront, positioning her novel as a “what if” exploration rather than a claim of historical fact. This approach allows her to use the authorship controversy as a lens for examining broader themes of gender, power, and artistic recognition.
Pacing and Structure: A Tale of Two Timelines
The dual narrative structure works well overall, with Picoult smoothly transitioning between past and present. The parallels between Emilia and Melina’s stories create a satisfying symmetry, though at times the modern sections feel slightly less compelling than their historical counterparts.
The pacing is generally brisk, with enough twists and turns to keep readers engaged. However, some may find the middle section sags slightly as we spend extended time in Emilia’s world before returning to Melina’s storyline.
Emotional Impact: A Bittersweet Ode to Female Creativity
“By Any Other Name” packs an emotional punch, particularly in its exploration of the bittersweet nature of Emilia’s bargain. The pain of watching another receive acclaim for your work is palpable. Picoult doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of her characters’ choices, lending the story a complexity that lingers long after the final page.
Comparisons to Other Works
Fans of historical fiction centered on overlooked women in the arts will find echoes of Tracy Chevalier’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” or Maggie O’Farrell’s “Hamnet.” The Shakespeare connection may appeal to readers who enjoyed “Shakespeare in Love” or more recent novels like Maggie O’Farrell’s “Hamnet.”
Within Picoult’s own bibliography, “By Any Other Name” feels like a natural evolution of themes she’s explored in previous works like “The Book of Two Ways” and “A Spark of Light,” which also deal with women’s autonomy and the weight of choices.
Final Verdict: A Triumph of Feminist Historical Fiction
“By Any Other Name” is Jodi Picoult at her finest—thought-provoking, emotionally resonant, and compulsively readable. By intertwining past and present, she offers a powerful meditation on how far women have come in their fight for artistic recognition – and how far we still have to go.
While the “Shakespeare was a woman” premise may strain credulity for some, Picoult uses it as an effective vehicle to explore timeless questions of identity, ambition, and the price of success. The result is a novel that will linger in readers’ minds long after the final curtain falls.
Pros:
– Richly drawn characters, especially Emilia
– Meticulous historical detail
– Thought-provoking exploration of gender in the arts
– Compelling dual narrative structure
Cons:
– Some may find the Shakespeare authorship premise far-fetched
– Pacing occasionally lags in the middle sections