Customer Reviews
Superb biography of a fascinating woman - By: hiljean, 18 May 2008 
This is the third biography I have read by Mary S Lovell (the first two being the Mitford Sisters, & Jane Digby: A Scandalous Life). Both were excellent so I had high hopes of this one & was not disappointed. Lovell writesin 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, & who believedin 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 & 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 interestedin the Tudor period,in strong women, &in seriously good biographies, this book is for you. Superb.
A great life - By: Ms. Vanessa Wagstaff, 04 Nov 2007 This is a superbly researched book. Rarely do Tudor women outside the circles of royalties leave a mark on history after 400 years but Bess makes a great subject & is a particularly fascinating lady given her ordinary background. Her marriages are of particular interest & her links to royalty. This is well worth a read for anyone interestedin any history, this lady is a meaty subject for those long winter evenings.
Excellent from start to finish - By: A. K. Newell, 14 Oct 2006 A thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. Mrs Lovell captures the imagination & transports you to the Tudor age with ease, Bess's story is easy to followin chronological order & it's interesting to note Bess is portrayedin a more favourable light than by previous biographers. Will read it again & look forward to Mrs Lovell's future books.
Wonderful Biography - By: Anne Whitfield, 17 Apr 2006 
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 & this one doesn't disappoint at all. I didn't know much about Bess, but I'm always addicted to reading about strong women & 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 & interesting that my love of history is soon lapping up all the wonderful details of Bess's life & Tudor societyin this book. Her son, William became the first Earl of Devonshire, a title stillin 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.
A fascinating read. - By: Mrs. S. L. Emmott, 29 Mar 2006 I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. The book is a balanced portrait of a very determined & intelligent woman who became rich & powerfulin her own right, during a period when very few women were allowed to own any property. Her spirit & perseverance come through the pages & 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 & again.
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