By Any Other Name Audiobook By Jodi Picoult cover art

By Any Other Name

A Novel

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By Any Other Name

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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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.

Accolades & Awards

Best of 2024
Most Popular
Best of 2024 Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Sagas Women's Fiction Shakespeare Theater
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Fascinating Premise • Intriguing Historical Mystery • Full Cast Narration • Parallel Timelines • Well-researched History

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Ugh, I wanted to like this because I love Jodi Piccoult but I think the Emilia narrator screwed that up for me. She has maybe 2 cadences for the whole thing… love making, terror, fear, anger, happiness, desperation all sound exactly the same and it’s obnoxious and makes the story feel like a harlequin romance novel at points. Really wish I would have read this instead of listening to it

Interesting story

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This was the best book I have read in years! I am a huge Jodi Picoult fan... but damn... girl stepped it up a notch!!! The style is brilliant, the way she wove both women's stories together was amazing, and the passion and point of struggle for female equality were beautifully penned without the edge of a bitter bra burning feminist that turns people off. Her notes about the level of research she did was fascinating, and while I may not quiet be ready to let go of everything I thought I knew to be true about the founder of literature, I loved learning of Amelia and have a much more open mind to an idea I didn't even realize was so debated. well done Jodi!

This book was phenomenal!

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Brilliantly written, researched, and performed. I could not stop listening and was sad when it ended. I listened carefully to every last word of the author's notes and am truly fascinated by the history surrounding Shakespeare. The stories of two women centuries apart are woven together seamlessly. I finished it a week ago and the characters are still on my mind, especially Southampton!

My Favorite of All of Picoult's Amazing Books!

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I’m a man, an actor, and passionate about Shakespeare. I loved this book. My mind got cracked wide open. Thank you for this stunning read.

My favorite

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Great book, but this was read entirely but 3 women - not a full cast at all.

Full cast??

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