Jodi Picoult gives keynote at Lewes History Book Festival

Best-selling author Jodi Picoult discussed her new novel, “By Any Other Name,” at the Lewes History Book Festival’s keynote event. The sold-out evening was held Sept. 27 at Cape Henlopen High School.

The event started with a discussion between Picoult and Alicia Andrzejewski, an assistant professor of English at the College of William & Mary who worked with Picoult on research for the novel.

“I could literally talk about this book for the rest of my life and be happy. There is a little something for everyone. It is a page turner,” Picoult said.

Picoult said the book is historical fiction that tells the all-too-real story about how women have had their voices silenced in the past and today.

“Women have been written out of history by the men who were writing it,” Picoult said. “It’s about how women have had their voices silenced in the past and are still having them silenced today.”

She talked about one of the main characters, Emilia Bassano, a real-life historical figure and female playwright from 1581.

Picoult said Bassano could not get her work in front of the public because she was a woman.

“She winds up paying a man for the use of his name. That man happens to be William Shakespeare,” Picoult said.

The story then moves forward to present day and focuses on a playwright named Melina Green, who cannot get her work seen on male-dominated Broadway.

“I would like this book to crack open minds that have been shut by decades of English teachers who only thought to teach Shakespeare and nobody else,” Picoult said.

After the discussion, Picoult took written questions from the audience.

Picoult is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author who has written 29 novels, including “Mad Honey” and “Wish You Were Here.”

The keynote event was funded through support from Sally Mott Freeman and John K. Freeman.

History Book Festival events were held at a variety of Lewes venues throughout the weekend, including the Lewes Public Library, Lewes Elementary School auditorium and the Rollins Community Center/Lewes History Museum.