Book Review / By Any Other Name

 

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.

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.

Published:  20th August 2024

Publisher:  Random House / Penguin/ / Allen & Unwin

Goodreads :  Click here

Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone

Source:  Bought

MY REVIEW

What I loved about this story...  The one aspect that I always enjoy when picking up a novel by this author is the fact that she makes me think.  This story was no different.  In this story, we are following Emilia Bassano throughout her life, following her works and where that leads her back in the 1580s.  When I went into this book I really didn't look to much into it or wonder what it was about.  I had not realised that this was based on and includes historical facts and references.  I have always been taught and believed that William Shakepeare was a very successful playright whose plays are still being shown and taught today.  What I had not really realised until reading this book was this may not have been true.  There are a lot of very interesting theories put forward on this book that has certainly made me question whether the history we have been taught is true. 

Would I recommend?  For those who like to think outside of the box and who want to question the history that we have been told throughout our entire lives, this is a very interesting book to pick up.  I can't say whether the history in this story is all fact, some fact or based on fact but the question that is posed in this story, I believe, is certainly one that should be discussed more...