The Number 1 New York Times bestseller from the author of My Sister’s Keeper and Mad Honey

‘Her best one yet’ JOJO MOYES
‘A timeless classic’ CHRIS WHITAKER

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Student playwright Melina Green finds that even in New York, her words will struggle to make the stage, when the power is held by men. Inspired by the life of her ancestor Emilia Bassano, a gifted and witty storyteller herself, Melina takes a lesson from history, and submits a play under a male pseudonym . . .

As Melina discovers more of Emilia’s extraordinary life in Elizabethan England, she is determined to right the wrongs of the past – and finally tell her story.

Two women – centuries apart – are both forced to hide behind another name.

But can either make their voices heard?

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‘A likeable heroine and a fun, readable evocation of Elizabethan court life and theatre’ The Times

‘Stunning. So interesting, clever, educational and moving. One of the best books I’ve read in recent times’ GILLIAN McALLISTER

‘[An] inspiring work of feminist literature’ ELLE

‘Had me absolutely captivated . . . I loved all the questions this novel raised about who gets to tell which stories and how complex that can become. Jodi Picoult is a genius’ JENNIFER SAINT

‘Timely and affecting . . . Picoult’s many, many fans will pounce on her latest incisive, pot-stirring tale’ BOOKLIST, Starred

‘You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life. 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. Picoult has done her research’ HARPER’S BAZAAR

‘Picoult creates a richly detailed portrait of daily life in Elizabethan England, from sumptuous castles to seedy hovels. . . A vibrant tale of a remarkable woman’ KIRKUS

Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestseller, April 2023

Jodi Picoult’s books have sold 40 million copies worldwide, BBC May 2024

Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestseller, September 2024

Author Biography

Jodi Picoult is the author of 29 novels, with 40 million copies sold worldwide. She has had 17 Sunday Times number one bestsellers. Five novels have been made into movies and Between The Lines (co-written with daughter Samantha van Leer) has been adapted as a musical. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the New England Bookseller Award for
Fiction, the Alex Award from the YA Library Services Association, and the NH Literary Award for Outstanding Literary Merit.
She is also the co-librettist for the musicals BREATHE and THE BOOK THIEF, which debuted in the UK in 2022.
She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.