In conjunction with Allen and Unwin, Byron Writers Festival is pleased to welcome Jodi Picoult back to Australia for her first tour since 2016. Join us for an evening with the #1 New York Times bestselling author of thirty novels, as she discusses her brilliant new novel, By Any Other Name.

Synopsis:

A captivating novel about two women, centuries apart, fighting to be heard—one of whom may be the real author of Shakespeare's plays—from the New York Times bestselling author of Mad Honey.

In 1581, Emilia Bassano—like most young women of her day—is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain's mistress, she has access to all theatre in England, and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly. And yet, creating some of the world's greatest dramatic masterpieces comes at great cost: by paying a man for the use of his name, she will write her own out of history.

In the present, playwright Melina Green has just 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. Would Melina—like Emilia—be willing to forfeit her credit as author, just for a chance to see her work performed?

Told in intertwining narratives, this sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire asks what price each woman is willing to pay to see their work live on—even if it means they will be forgotten.

Join this beloved international author for a thrilling night of conversation.