Bess - Anna Beer

Bess Ralegh was the hidden force behind Sir Walter Ralegh's spectacular public achievements, the stable point in his turbulent private life and the shrewd creator of his reputation after his death. But she was more than a foil to the man who symbolises the Elizabethan world. With her trademark independence, she resisted early marriage then embraced a passionate and illicit liaison with Ralegh. Despite having no rights as a woman, she prospered - twice rebuilding a fortune from nothing - and her remarkable emotional strength sustained her through personal tragedies and political disasters. A risk taker, she played for high political stakes - and successive monarchs, threatened by her ability, sought to destroy her and those she loved. Though imprisoned, banished and made destitute, each time she bounced back, taking on her enemies with remarkable courage. Here, she is brought to life in a perceptive and immensely enjoyable biography.