I am no stranger to the theory that Shakespeare was not... well, SHAKESPEARE. One of my very first favourite books as a child was called Shakespeare's Secret and it addressed this very issue: did Shakespeare really write the plays, sonnets and other literary works attributed to his name? An alarming amount of evidence suggests otherwise.

Jodi Picoult's latest work addresses the conspiracies around Shakespeare's authorship through the lens of two women. Melina Green is an aspiring playwright. Despite the seemingly "progressive" nature of the 21st century, Melina's identity as a woman is an obstacle to success in the theatre world. Meanwhile, Emilia Bassano is a secret Jew living in the antisemitic London of the 16th and 17th centuries. Despite the rule of Queen Elizabeth I, gender discrimination is at its peak and Emilia is severely marginalised and constrained to a life of struggle. Alternating between the two women's POVs, Picoult addresses issues of gender politics and womanhood across history.

While this book may be - for the most part - fictional, the character of Emilia Bassano is very real. Often referred to as "Shakespeare's dark lady" (a testament to her darker complexion which stemmed from her Italian and Moroccan roots), Bassano is *known* as the first published woman poet in England. I emphasise *known* because who knows how many other women had been writing and publishing in secret? Reading Picoult's brilliantly researched and expertly woved rendition of Emilia's story filled me with such pain, anger, frustration, empathy, sorrow and a sense of unfulfilled justice. The juxtaposition between the past and the present shows that regardless of our personal thoughts on the matter, feminism was, and still is, very necessary.

While reading this book, I began to think about the difficulties a white woman may have in addressing issues of womanhood and marginalisation in a way that is nuanced and inclusive. In the past, the words of white women were revolutionary as the very idea of women asserting themselves was radical. The experiences of POC women and other gender identities were almost unheard of. Today we are more aware of the multiplicity of discrimination and without careful consideration, a white woman can easily find herself falling into the trap of "white feminism". I feel like Picoult did a decent job navigating her own identity within the contexts of both this story and our greater reality. Through the character of Andre, the book extends beyond the white feminist narratives often found in historical accounts rewritten for women empowerment. Andre’s character explicitly addresses issues of queer and black identities in the entertainment (in this case theatre) industry. Meanwhile, Marlowe represents the struggles of queerness in Elizabethan times. Their male identities contrast with the white female leads, opening a dialogue on the complexities of privilege and oppression. Other issues touched on in this book include neurodivergence, GBV, menstruation, grief, religious bigotry, forbidden love, and the demonisation of female sexuality.

Truly a gripping and thought-provoking read!