Bess: The Life of Lady Ralegh, Wife to Sir Walter

Book Details

Library

Author

Anna Beer

Category

Biography / Non Fiction

Publisher

Constable & Robinson

Printed By

-

Country

European Union

Personal

Year Published

2004 / 2005

Date Read

26/08/2006

ISBN

1845290623

Personal Rating

9/10

Binding

Paperback

Pages

Overview

As lover, wife and widow of Sir Walter Ralegh, Bess was the hidden force behind his spectacular public achievements, the stable point in his turbulent private life, and the shrewd creator of his reputation after his death. Having resisted being married off in her teens, she began a passionate and illicit sexual relationship with Ralegh in her twenties; her intelligence and business acumen were exceptional, despite having no rights as a woman (twice she built a fortune from nothing); and her remarkable emotional strength sustained her through personal tragedy and political disasters that broke many others, including her own husband.

Comment

This was pretty involved reading, but it was utterly fascinating. Bess was a woman centuries ahead of her time, and how she managed to achieve as much as she did, with next-to-no rights or legal voice is admirable. Her devotion to her husband is plain, if a little eccentric at times – she had his head embalmed so she could keep it with her after his death.

Anna Beer has done an amazing job of piecing together a life only partially in the spotlight, and I think she's done a lot for the woman Raleigh biographer's have accused of all manner of things.