Biography (Wikipedia)
Jodi Lynn Picoult, born in 1966, is an American writer who has published 28 novels and short stories, and has also written several issues of Wonder Woman.
Approximately 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages. In 2003, she was awarded the New England Bookseller Award for fiction.
Picoult writes popular fiction which can be characterized as family saga, frequently centering story lines on moral dilemmas or procedural dramas which pit family members against one another. Over her writing career, Picoult has covered a wide range of controversial or moral issues, including abortion, the Holocaust, assisted suicide, race relations, eugenics, LGBT rights, fertility issues, religion, the death penalty, and school shootings. She does not herself identify as a critically successful author, but has instead been described by Janet Maslin as "a solid, lively storyteller, even if she occasionally bogs down in lyrical turns of phrase."
Biography (Wikipedia)
Picoult was born in Nesconset, New York, on Long Island in 1966. She graduated from Smithtown High School East in 1983. She has described her family as "non-practicing Jewish."
She wrote her first story at age five, titled "The Lobster Which Misunderstood." Her mother and grandmother were both teachers, and she says that their influence on her was very important.
She studied creative writing at Princeton University with Mary Morris, and graduated in 1987 with an A.B. in English after completing a 320-page senior thesis titled "Developments."
She published two short stories in Seventeen magazine while still in college. Immediately after graduation, she began a variety of jobs, ranging from editing textbooks to teaching eighth-grade English. She earned a master's degree in education from Harvard University.
Picoult has two honorary Doctor of Letters degrees: one from Dartmouth College in 2010, the other from the University of New Haven in 2012. In 2016, Picoult was selected to be Princeton's Class Day Speaker before commencement.
Biography (Wikipedia)
Picoult became the writer of the DC Comics series Wonder Woman, following the departure of Allan Heinberg. Her first issue was released on March 28, 2007, and her last was issue number 10, released on June 27, 2007.
Nineteen Minutes, Picoult's novel about the aftermath of a school shooting in a small town, published on March 9, 2007, was her first book to debut at number 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. Her book Change of Heart, published on March 4, 2008, was her second novel to debut at number 1 on that list. Handle with Care in 2009 and House Rules in 2010 also reached number 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list.
Often categorized as a chick-lit author, a somewhat derisive label, Picoult has claimed to accept a lack of critical acclaim in exchange for popularity: "I'm never going to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, not going to win a National Book Award, never even going to be nominated. What you trade for that is sales and readership. And I would rather reach more people. It would be very nice to not be unfairly accused of being a bad writer, but hopefully if you do pick up one of my books, you will be quickly disabused of that notion."
Picoult lives in New Hampshire with her husband. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Bibliography (Wikipedia)
Songs of the Humpback Whale (1992)
Harvesting the Heart (1993)
Picture Perfect (1995)
Mercy (1996)
The Pact (1998)
Keeping Faith (1999)
Plain Truth (2001)
Salem Falls (2001)
Perfect Match (2002)
Second Glance (2003)
My Sister's Keeper (2004)
Vanishing Acts (2005)
The Tenth Circle (2006
Nineteen Minutes (2007)
Change of Heart (2008)
Handle with Care (2009)
House Rules (2010)
Leaving Home: Short Pieces (2011)
Biography
Interview: By Any Other Name
Jodi Picoult at Folger
America's Book Club--CSpan
Cast of characters—Emilia Bassano Lanier
Emilia Bassano Lanier: primary protagonist in this novel, based on the historical figure who has been acknowledged as the first woman to have her poetry published.
Young woman born in Renaissance England to a family of Italian musicians, Jewish, who play at court.
When orphaned young, she is taken in by aristocratic women who provided her with education comparable to what a young man would receive, but she is then bartered to Lord Hunsdon, Queen Elizabeth's cousin, Lord Chamberlain, and a patron of the arts. Her cousin Jeronimo assisted with the arrangement, for financial gain.
Although he was 45 years older than Emilia, he treated her well, until she became pregnant. A pregnant mistress would be an embarrassment to his wife, so he hastily married her off to Alfonso Lanier, also a Queen's musician; it was not a happy marriage.
Emilia and Southampton met as children, meet again as adults and she begins an affair with him, although she does not belong to his social class. He encourages her writing, has their miniature portraits painted. This is an acknowledgement of her as a person, which no one else has done, until she meets Christopher Marlowe.
Cast of characters—Emilia Bassano Lanier
Emilia Bassano Lanier: primary protagonist in this novel, based on the historical figure who has been acknowledged as the first woman to have her poetry published.
Young woman born in Renaissance England to a family of Italian musicians, Jewish, who play at court.
When orphaned young, she is taken in by aristocratic women who provided her with education comparable to what a young man would receive, but she is then bartered to Lord Hunsdon, Queen Elizabeth's cousin, Lord Chamberlain, and a patron of the arts. Because of his connections with the theater, Emilia gets to read and comment on plays. Her cousin Jeronimo assisted with the arrangement, for financial gain.
Although he was 45 years older than Emilia, he treated her well, until she became pregnant. A pregnant mistress would be an embarrassment to his wife, so he hastily married her off to Alfonso Lanier, also a Queen's musician; it was not a happy marriage.
Emilia and Southampton met as children, meet again as adults and she begins an affair with him, although she does not belong to his social class. He encourages her writing, has their miniature portraits painted. This is an acknowledgement of her as a person, which no one else has done, until she meets Christopher Marlowe.
Cast of characters
Melina (Mel) Green—Emilia's descendent in the present time, also a college student living in New York, and an aspiring playwright
Mel lacks confidence, perhaps because her mother slowly died of cancer during her childhood and that illness consumed all their attention. She says, "I think parents have, like, a shelf for their emotions, and only so many fits on it. There were times my dad just didn’t have the room for me.”
In a drunken impulse, Andre submits her play in the competition, Reputation, under the androgynous name Mel. It's the emotional piece Bufort asked for, but ends with an allusion to his harassment. It get panned.
Andre Washington, Mel's friend and roommate
He does have confidence in her, is upbeat, and cheers her own, but lack confidence in himself. Although a playwright as well, he has never finished one, caught in endless rewriting.
He's also Black, and gay, in a world that isn't always tolerant of those attributes.
Cast of characters
Melina (Mel) Green—Emilia's descendent in the present time, also a college student living in New York, and an aspiring playwright
Mel lacks confidence, perhaps because her mother slowly died of cancer during her childhood and that illness consumed all their attention. She says, "I think parents have, like, a shelf for their emotions, and only so many fits on it. There were times my dad just didn’t have the room for me.”
Andre Washington, Mel's friend and roommate
He does have confidence in her, is upbeat, and cheers her own, but lack confidence in himself. Although a playwright as well, he has never finished one, caught in endless rewriting.
He's also Black, and gay, in a world that isn't always tolerant of those attributes
Cast of characters
Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon
Queen Elizabeth's Lord Chamberlain and the man who takes Emilia as his mistress. Despite the gap in their ages and social status, he is generous to her, takes her to court, and treats her with respect, apparently, for a time.
Despite this kindness, however, his social position is still his priority. So, when she becomes pregnant, he dismisses her from Somerset House but arranges for her marriage to Alfonso Lanier. However, Emilia is struck by the fact that he settled £700 on her, “slightly more than what the Lord Chamberlain had paid last year for a handful of doublets and three cloaks.” She thinks that “[a]t least now she knew what she was worth” and realizes that, despite his kindness, Hunsdon still does not see her as a person with autonomy, but rather a possession to be disposed of; he is still bound by the ideas of his time and social status.
Cast of characters
Southampton—the love of Emilia's life, and a real historical figure. In the Author's note, Picoult admits that their relationship is fictional although there may be some historical evidence.
He's often identified as the "fair youth" in Shakespeare's sonnets, much as Emilia is identified as the "dark lady."
Southampton is handsome, "broad-shouldered, and fit, with a long tousle of auburn hair and eyes so blue it seemed the sky passed through him.”
Their love affair continues for some time, possibly he is the father of her son, but she breaks it off because her husband Alfonso is jealous and abusive, and she fears for her son's life. Also, she has learned the social strictures from Hunsdon and doesn't want to jeopardize the relationship.
Although Southampton marries and has his own family, he continues to try to help Emilia.
At the end, his son returns their portraits to her.
Cast of characters
Alphonso Lanier—Emilia's husband and a static, flat character in this novel.
Also Jewish, though he doesn't practice his religion, he agrees to marry Emilia in return for £700.
Emilia finds him repulsive at first sight: “He had red hair and pockmarks on the part of his face his beard did not cover.” (240). His cruelty is immediately apparent; he tries to assault her on their wedding night, even though she begs him not to. He ignores her son, Henry, and he and Emilia do not have any living children. She loses several pregnancies with him and finally gives birth to a daughter, Odyllia, who dies at 10 months old.
He's consistently cruel and abusive. Several times he beats her badly, and often loses money on schemes to become a knight or get rich. He has no work ethic and little common sense.
When he dies suddenly in bed with another woman, Emilia reacts with shock and laughter: “She dissolved into giggles, clutching her sides.” Rather than tearing her garments in mourning, she rejoices that she is finally free.
In the author’s note, Picoult explains that Alphonso was a real person. Though there is no evidence he abused Emilia, he did squander the money Hunsdon left her.
Cast of characters
Jaspar Tolle, theater critic for the New York Times when Mel first meets him who pans her play.
Because young for a theater critic, he was considered a “wunderkind,” who had "white-blond hair with a cowlick in the back, and behind his tortoiseshell glasses, his vivid blue eyes glittered like cut glass. He was tall, lanky, and looked aggrieved.”
He dismisses Mel as a playwright and she assumes, as do others, that he is rude and callous. But, he is neurodivergent and explains that it feels like “there’s a blurry window between me and the rest of the world.”
Although originally caste as the misogynistic villain, Mel discovers he's nicer than appears. After meeting Melina and hearing her story, he realizes that he has been guilty of not recognizing his own biases in reviewing plays.
He quits his job as a critic and helps to open the Athena Playhouse, which produces plays only by women and nonbinary people. He believes he can build a “bigger table” and help theatre become more equitable for those other than white men.
Cast of characters
Isabella Luccino, also the Baron’s mistress, is the woman who tutors Emilia in the arts of becoming a mistress. When Emilia initially meets her, she thinks of Isabella as a “monstrous and fearsome” woman with “fingernails like talons.” However, she comes to love Isabella and appreciate her mentorship because Isabella is blunt and practical; she tries to equip Emilia with the tools she will need to survive in the world.
She explains the difference between being a mistress and a wife; whereas a wife is “owned,” a mistress has “freedom.” Her mentorship helps Emilia succeed with Hunsdon.
Later in life, she and Emilia become friends. When she dies of the plague, she leaves jewelry to Emilia so that she has some money that is not Alphonso’s.
Cast of characters
Bess is Emilia’s lady’s maid in Hunsdon’s home. She keeps Emilia’s secrets in exchange for a few coins and helps her mistress meet with Southampton.
However, after Emilia is married off and exiled from Hunsdon’s home, Bess goes with her. She is fiercely loyal to Emilia and helps her raise Henry. Emilia thinks Bess is her “strongest ally.”
Bess is a static character, portrayed primarily as Emilia’s friend and support, with no life of her own. When Emilia dies, Bess is the one with her, and Emilia thanks her for being her “constant.” She would have been unable to survive without Bess’s support and loyalty.
Questions for discussion
This novel is an example of "dual-time" or "split-time" structure; the narrative moves back and forth between Emilia in the Renaissance and Mel in the modern age, both of whom want acknowledgement as writers, more specifically playwrights. Because Emilia is long dead, her life and struggles are a commentary for Mel on her own.
On the other hand, the characters in a "split time" novel can provide a commentary on one another when both characters are alive, as happens in Kate Quinn's novel, The Alice Network, where both Eve (WWI) and Charlie (WWII) grapple with Rene Bordelon, Nazi conspirator, and the tragedies of war.
Here Emilia is Mel's ancestor, a family connection, but long past. What are the parallels between the two women's lives? What does Mel learn from Emilia's life?
P.S. Katharine Reay, The London House, and Kristin Harmel, The Book of Lost Names, 2 others we've read, also cited in the top 5.
Questions for discussion
Several characters in this novel, we discover, are not what they initially seem to be; in the past, Lord Hunsdon, in the present, Jaspar Tolle, Andre.
In what way is that a theme in this novel?
Related question:
Another obvious theme is the difficulty of those other than white men getting published, getting recognition, get acknowledged for who they are. A couple of characters in this novel, other than the two dominant women, also struggle with acceptance. Why is it important that two men also face discrimination?
Questions for discussion
A dominant theme in this novel is "if women could write their own stories . . . " On one level, yes, it refers, to getting the words they write published, and recognized, but it has other meanings as well. What are those?
Questions for discussion
References to the game of chess appear across both story lines in this novel:
Emilia imagines herself as "the little dark pawn on the chessboard, being moved around at the whims of whoever was playing the game."
Melina is described as having "the intensity of a grandmaster chess champion whose understanding of the game determined success."
Jasper, who is neurodivergent, feels like he has been "dropped into a life-size board game without anyone giving him a set of rules."
So what does chess represent for these characters?
Questions for discussion
Another symbolic image is Mary Sydney's invisible ink. She writes her name on a manuscript, showing Emilia, then it quickly fades:
"Emilia met her gaze. I did not think you someone who would make it even easier to erase women’s words, she said delicately. You are a great patron of the arts. You are a countess, and therefore above reproach. Could you not give your play to a troupe?”
“It is because I am a countess that I could not. It would be a scandal. It is one thing to patronize theater. But were I to author a play for performance, my husband would be shamed for it. And that he would not ignore.”
“What will you do with it?” Emilia asked. “I am sure someone at court will find a use for it,” Mary Sidney said. “And if not, I shall bask in the brilliance of creating something that has not existed before.”
Whereas Mel wants to remain "invisible," Emilia wants to be seen, as the miniature portrait represents.
So, what do you make of this "invisible ink"?
Questions for discussion
Symbol: birds—the falcon and the kite
The falcon is a powerful bird of prey, but in the novel, it is kept hooded, hungry, and tethered—controlled by its male owner. The falconer’s comment, “Falcons be ladies,” draws a direct parallel between the falcons and women in Elizabethan society: both are valued for their usefulness but denied freedom. The falcon’s captivity and training reflect how women are constrained, tamed, and expected to serve men’s purposes.
The kite appears in a story Emilia tells a student late in her life. The kite, trapped in a palace, dies trying to escape through a glass window. However, its struggle leaves a permanent crack in the glass. Emilia uses this story to say that even if she cannot achieve freedom herself, her efforts might make escape possible for future generations of women. The kite’s story is more tragic than the falcon’s, but it carries a message of hope and progress: each generation’s struggle can make change possible for the next.
Questions for discussion
When Emilia dies, she thinks that she will be reunited with Southampton, but meets instead Kit Marlowe. What's the message here?
Questions for discussion
So, what is the final take away from this novel?
Questions for discussion
The Shakespeare authorship question—what do you think?
A fruitful fictional strategy?
A possible truth?
Book to Note
Walter Isaacson, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, 2025 book that focuses on the line from the Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."
"Greatest 35 words ever written" Also, "We the People"
This document was the first in history to focus on individual rights instead of the government or monarch. The text has been described as "aspirational."