No.1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult brings to life the woman many believe was the real playwright behind the work of William Shakespeare alongside a contemporary story of a New York author suffering the same fate of being silenced.

'It is hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes.'
FINANCIAL TIMES

What if the greatest writer of all time isn't who we think he is?

In 1581, Emilia Bassano is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain's mistress she has access to the theatre and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly. But creating some of the world's greatest dramatic masterpieces comes at a cost: by paying a man for the use of his name, she will write her own out of history. His name? William Shakespeare.

In present day Manhattan, playwright Melina Green has written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. Although the challenges are different four hundred years later, the playing field is still not level for women in theatre. Is Melina—like Emilia—willing to forfeit her credit as author, to see her work performed?

No.1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult has written a sweeping tale of ambition, courage and desire that explores the ways in which two women, centuries apart, are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.

'Jodi Picoult is that rare, one-in-a-million writer whose books both squeeze your heart and expand your mind.'
EMILY HENRY

'A writer the world needs to be reading right now.'
INDEPENDENT