Review: By Any Other Name

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the late 1500s, Emilia was sold by her family to be the mistress of Lord Chamberlain. Although she appears to have everything she needs … a voice is not one of them. She convinces a man to be the name on the plays she is writing and history will never know. Melina is in the present day and can’t get her work published either. When she has the chance to get her work performed, under a man’s name, she decides to go for it. Are these women’s stories ever coming out into the light?

By Any Other Name is a historical fiction story with intertwining narratives. Melina is a descendant of Emilia and appears to be taking inspiration from the story that she believes needs to be told. The facts about women being published in the past and the present are dealt with fairly and readers may even be inspired to look up some of these Shakespearean works to look for the clues mentioned. Although this is a long read, it will be a pleasure for those who enjoy this historical period.


View all my reviews