Product Description

Bess of Hardwick was one of the most remarkable women of the Tudor era. Gently-born in reduced circumstances, she was married at 15 and when she was widowed at 16, she was 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' fourth 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10396 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-03
• Released on: 2006-08-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

Review
** 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 ** 'There is much to enjoy in this lucidly written biography' THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH ** 'Detailed and fascinating' INDEPENDENT ** 'Impressive' Anne Somerset, THE SPECTATOR

Sunday Express
‘This wonderfully researched book is an intimate portrait of
[Bess’s] life and a vivid insight into life in Tudor society’

Independent
‘A revealing portrait of a woman who managed to stay on the right
side of the temperamental Tudors’

Customer Reviews

A fascinating read.
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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Excellent from start to finish
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.

Wonderful Biography
From the library I picked up a few books to read over Easter. The first book I'm reading is Bess of Hardwick; First lady of Chatsworth, by Mary. S. Lovell.
I love biographies and this one doesn't disappoint at all. I didn't know much about Bess, but I'm always addicted to reading about strong women and she certainly was one.
The Tudor period isn't my first love, I'm no fan of Henry VIII, but thankfully Bess's story is so entertaining and interesting that my love of history is soon lapping up all the wonderful details of Bess's life and Tudor society in this book. Her son, William became the first Earl of Devonshire, a title still in use today.
Mary S Lovell does a wonderful job of giving the reader little details that, to an author, are excellent for research - like Bess's account entries, etc, so we know what price things were, plus snippets of letters so we know the language of the day. All very good stuff.