Bess of Hardwick was one of the most remarkable women of the Tudor era. Gently-born in reduced circumstances, she was married at 15, wedded at 16 and still a virgin. At 19 she married a man more than twice her age, Sir William Cavendish, a senior auditor in King Henry VIII's Court of Augmentations. Responsible for seizing church properties for the crown during the Dissolution, Cavendish enriched himself in the process. During the reign of King Edward VI, Cavendish was the Treasurer to the boy king and sisters and he and Bess moved in the highest levels of society. They had a London home and built Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. After Cavendish's death her third husband was poisoned by his brother. Bess' 4th marriage to the patrician George, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, Earl Marshall of England, made Bess one of the most important women at court. Her shrewd business acumen was a byword and she was said to have 'a masculine understanding', in that age when women had little education and few legal rights. The Earl's death made her arguably the wealthiest and therefore - next to the Queen - the most powerful woman in the country.
Bess of Hardwick: First Lady of Chatsworth
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Lovell rehabilitates Bess's reputation, showing that she was shrewd rather than shrewish, kind rather than cold (THE TIMES )
This wonderfully researched book is an intimate portrait of [Bess's] life and a vivid insight into life in Tudor society (SUNDAY EXPRESS )
Lovell has excelled at bringing the Tudor Age to exuberant life... altogether this is a rattling good read (Hugh Massingberd, MAIL ON SUNDAY )
The best account yet available of this shrewd, enigmatic and remarkable woman (SUNDAY TIMES )
This wonderfully researched book is an intimate portrait of [Bess's] life and a vivid insight into life in Tudor society (SUNDAY EXPRESS )
Lovell has excelled at bringing the Tudor Age to exuberant life... altogether this is a rattling good read (Hugh Massingberd, MAIL ON SUNDAY )
The best account yet available of this shrewd, enigmatic and remarkable woman (SUNDAY TIMES )
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* A biography of one of the most remarkable women of the Tudor era - next to Queen Elizabeth the most powerful woman in England.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
77 of 77 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. The book is a balanced portrait of a very determined and intelligent woman who became rich and powerful in her own right, during a period when very few women were allowed to own any property. Her spirit and perseverance come through the pages and one cannot help but admire Bess of Hardwick. Ms Lovell balances the domestic life of Bess with the political upheavals she lived through seamlessly. This is a brilliant read, I know I will read it again and again.
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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By hiljean
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
This is the third biography I have read by Mary S Lovell (the first two being the Mitford Sisters, and Jane Digby: A Scandalous Life). Both were excellent so I had high hopes of this one and was not disappointed. Lovell writes in a very accessible way despite cramming her books with well-researched detail.
Bess is a fascinating subject. Although she accumulated her wealth partly through a series of good marriages, she was a woman who had extraordinary business acumen for her time, and who believed in fighting for her rights. We are also given interesting insights into the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots (one of Bess's husbands, the Earl of Shrewsbury, was responsible for Mary's security for 15 years of her imprisonment). Elizabeth I is another of the principal characters as Bess was part of her close entourage at an early age and they remained lifelong friends. And I learnt something of the life of Arbella, Bess's granddaughter, who has been the subject of a recent biography by another writer.
If you are interested in the Tudor period, in strong women, and in seriously good biographies, this book is for you. Superb.
Bess is a fascinating subject. Although she accumulated her wealth partly through a series of good marriages, she was a woman who had extraordinary business acumen for her time, and who believed in fighting for her rights. We are also given interesting insights into the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots (one of Bess's husbands, the Earl of Shrewsbury, was responsible for Mary's security for 15 years of her imprisonment). Elizabeth I is another of the principal characters as Bess was part of her close entourage at an early age and they remained lifelong friends. And I learnt something of the life of Arbella, Bess's granddaughter, who has been the subject of a recent biography by another writer.
If you are interested in the Tudor period, in strong women, and in seriously good biographies, this book is for you. Superb.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By A. K. Newell
Format:Paperback
A thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. Mrs Lovell captures the imagination and transports you to the Tudor age with ease, Bess's story is easy to follow in chronological order and it's interesting to note Bess is portrayed in a more favourable light than by previous biographers. Will read it again and look forward to Mrs Lovell's future books.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bess of Hardwick
I bought this book as I have recently visited Chatsworth House and Hardwick Hall. Everything I learned about this lady Fascinated me. Read more
Published 2 hours ago by Mrs. Margaret E. Bridger
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thought-provoking and captivating account of an inspirational woman
Bess of Hardwick: First Lady of Chatsworth reads like a morality tale about money, success and power. Read more
Published 17 days ago by S. Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read
I enjoyed this well written book.
Right from the start I got the feel of England during those times.
A lady to admire and very much so for her times. Read more
Right from the start I got the feel of England during those times.
A lady to admire and very much so for her times. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Francis Ahern
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bess of Hardwick
Loved this. Was going through a big Tudor period and this biography of Bess is the best I have yet read.
Published 1 month ago by Rachel Sykes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well researched but limited context
I have mixed feelings about this book. At 479 pages excluding appendices it's long. It is well-researched but for my taste concentrates overly on what is known of the minutiae of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by King Brosby
5.0 out of 5 stars
A really good read!
This brilliantly researched book told me everything that I wanted to know about this fascinating lady, & is written in such a way that the reader longs to continue reading long... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Diane Pewter
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hard going!
The story of Bess of Hardwick is fascinating. Unfortunately this book isn't. It's very dry and difficult read and I gave up in the end. Read more
Published 2 months ago by L. Dawe
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellant read, historical interest
This was a wonderful read, always been interested in Bess of Hardwick, but this told me such a lot about her which I did not know, and also the history of the times she lived... Read more
Published 3 months ago by M.E. Bolton
5.0 out of 5 stars
My current read...
Reading Bess of Hardwick at the moment. Full of information about a lady who has visited many of the history books I have read. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Storyteller
5.0 out of 5 stars
A modern woman before her time.
A really good read about Bess and her incredible skill in using her considerable charm and business acumen for achieving so much in an age when women were very much "the second... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Wethered
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