Bess Throckmorton defies her notorious background and lack of education to become Queen Elizabeth’s Gentlewoman
and trusted confidante.
Tony Riches’s new Tudor novel, Bess: Tudor Gentlewoman follows the life and adventures of Bess Throckmorton, gentlewoman of Queen Elizabeth’s inner circle and wife of the swashbuckling adventurer, Sir Walter Raleigh. Bess’s story transports the reader to the heart of Tudor England with all its danger, glamour, intrigue and despair.
One of the best things about historical fiction, is being taken on a journey into someone else’s life courtesy of the painstaking research done by the author. With them as your guide, they lead you into the past where you are able to look through the eyes of a real person.
The wonderful advantage of fiction is the author has the flexibility to fill in the gaps and make the past spring to life in every gritty, real and, often shocking, detail. This is something at which Tony Riches excels and the more I read about Bess, the more I was drawn into her world, feeling her concerns, her pain and her determination to survive.
Packed full of extraordinary detail, Bess: Tudor Gentlewoman gives a new perspective on Tudor women. She lived a full and, at times, dangerous life. She survived a stint as a prisoner in the Tower of London, she weathered the storms of her marriage to Sir Walter Raleigh and used her guile, skill and diplomatic skills to carve a path through the tragedies and misfortunes which made up her life.
As with all Tony’s books Bess: Tudor Gentlewoman transports you through time to experience the often harrowing day-to-day lives of these forgotten stories. I enjoyed every page and highly recommend it to history and non-history lovers alike. This is a story of survival, love and, above all, hope.
Alexandra Walsh
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About the Author
Alexandra Walsh is a bestselling author of the dual timeline women’s fiction. Her books range from the 15th and 16th centuries to the Victorian era and are inspired by the hidden voices of women that have been lost over the centuries. The Marquess House Saga offers an alternative view of the Tudor and early Stuart eras, while The Wind Chime and The Music Makers explore different aspects of Victorian society. Formerly, a journalist for over 25 years, writing for many national newspapers and magazines; Alexandra also worked in the TV and film industries as an associate producer, director, script writer and mentor for the MA Screen Writing course at the prestigious London Film School. She is a member of The Society of Authors and The Historical Writers Association. For updates and more information visit her website: www.alexandrawalsh.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter @purplemermaid25 and Bluesky @purplemermaid25.bsky.social
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