Buy used:

$15.88

$3.99 delivery May 15 - 16. Details

Select delivery location

Used: Very Good | Details

Sold by HPB-Emerald

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (11) from $14.95 + $4.92 shipping

Follow the author

Elizabeth Norton

+ Follow

More books from this author

Bessie Blount: Mistress to Henry VIII Paperback – July 15, 2013

by Elizabeth Norton (Author)

3.9 46 ratings

See all formats and editions

Bessie Blount was the longest-lasting mistress of Henry VIII, and one of the earliest known. She was the king's first love. More beautiful than Anne Boleyn or any of Henry's other wives or concubines, Bessie's looks and other charms ensured that she turned heads, winning a place at court as one of Catherine of Aragon's ladies. Within months she was partnering the king in dancing and she rose to be the woman with the most influence over Henry, much to Catherine of Aragon's despair. The affair probably lasted five years (longer than most of Henry's marriages) and in 1519 she bore Henry VIII a son, Henry Fitzroy. As a mark of his importance Cardinal Wolsey was appointed his guardian and godfather. Fitzroy was not the only issue of the relationship and the evidence suggests that Bessie also bore the king a second illegitimate child. Supplanted by Mary Boleyn, Bessie's importance rests on the vital proof she gave Henry VIII that he could father a healthy son and, through Henry Fitzroy, Bessie remained a prominent figure at court. She was also able to build a relationship with her eldest son, as well as raising her own family and running her own estates following her marriages. In the country at large her position as mother of such an important child made her an object of interest to many of her contemporaries. Sidelined by historians until now, Bessie and the son she had by the king are one of the great 'what ifs' of English history. If Jane Seymour had not produced a male heir and Bessie's son had not died young, aged seventeen, in all likelihood Henry Fitzroy could have followed his father as King Henry IX and Bessie could have been propelled to the status of mother of the king.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A readable, intelligent account (The Good Book Guide)

About the Author

Elizabeth Norton gained her first degree from the University of Cambridge, and her Masters from the University of Oxford. She has written many books on the Tudors and England’s Queens for Amberley. She lives in Kingston Upon Thames.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amberley Publishing (July 15, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1445613859
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1445613857
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.88 x 1.1 x 7.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,415,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,928 in Historical British Biographies
- #2,279 in England History
- #15,146 in Women's Biographies

Customer Reviews:
3.9 46 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Elizabeth Norton

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5

46 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Amazon Customer

a good book

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2012

Verified Purchase

the book arrived on time and in very good condition. I have enjoyed reading it...I recommend every one read it.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Bonnie A. Reilly

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2016

Verified Purchase

Excellent account of this little known mistress of Henry VIII.

Helpful

mz johansen

Historically Excellent But A Bit Drier Than Anticipated

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2012

Verified Purchase

I was SO excited to receive this book - after waiting for a considerable amount of time for it to arrive. I wanted, very much, to enjoy this book as much as I have reveled in the reading of other books by Elizabeth Norton. Bessie Blount's life is largely a mystery and there is, as far as I've concluded, very little historically validated information available about the life she led and how she lived it. This book made for a slow read and was not anywhere near as 'readable' as Ms. Norton's biography of "Anne of Cleves".

"Bessie Blount" will be a 'keeper' for me - and will live on the shelf next to Ms. Norton's other books. I realize that the author presented as much history as there is to know about Elizabeth Blount and her familial connections to the peers of the realm - and her children by Henry VIII - but the book was dry and it reads like the history book that it is.

The book does contain a wealth of extremely well researched historical reference material and, yes, I did read it all of the way through because there was so much excellent historical fact contained in the pages. I think this biography was made even drier by the editing. To me, it left something to be desired. There were many, too many, (these are not direct quotes but they're close) "as will be revealed in a later chapter", " as will be discussed later" or "as was shown above" type references throughout the book. Why? If I read the book I will find out that it will be discussed later. No?

This book will be valuable for any British history fan who wants to know all of the available history about this mysterious woman who was a significant part of Henry VIII's life - albeit for such a short time. Additionally, the historical reference to Bessie's contemporaries is an excellent resource. I didn't dislike the book - I just think that I had anticipated a more palatable read. Ms. Norton continues to engage my interest and I know that I will order whatever her next release will be.

9 people found this helpful

Helpful

Rio

Not much info on Bessie

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2012

Verified Purchase

Besides the fact the author has a good argument on Elizabeth Tailboys being Bessie and Henry's daughter this book is a dud. This book covers more of Henry's reign and wives Catherine and Anne than it does Bessie. Henry had masques. Duh. Catherine had jewels, well yeah she was the Queen. Bessie may have done this and that and owned a book she may have or may not have read. The author took the subject of Bessie and tried to make a compete book without much evidence. She filled in the gaps with things Tudor fans already know. Boring.

To add, the kindle version doesn't show the pictures. It just gives the descriptions. I feel cheated.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

lady cactus

Very disappointing!

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2012

Verified Purchase

I've enjoyed some of Elizabeth Norton's other books - Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves. Her books are always meticulously researched, and, while not exactly enthalling, she is able to draw a clear picture of the main character. This book, however, was just total research - a huge geneological study with who begat whom. I read for half an hour hoping to learn something about Bessie Blount, but all I got was her family tree. I deleted this from my kindle and would strongly urge you to not buy this without seeing a sample first.

18 people found this helpful

Helpful

Annette

The Real Bessie Blount

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2013

Source: Free copy from Amberley Publishing for purpose of review.

Summary:
Elizabeth, or as history knows her, Bessie Blount, was born to a "gentry" and "pious" family. There is minimal historical information known about her, to put together an in-depth biography is impossible. There are no paintings of her. The information gleaned is through a historian and biographer named William Childe, family lineage, brief information shared from other historical figures, and Bessie's notations made in a book. Despite having a small amount of information to work with, Elizabeth Norton's aim in writing this book is to "bring out the real woman" of history.
Bessie Blount was born in Kinlet, Shropshire, England. Most evidence shows Bessie was born in 1498. Her parents were "Sir John Blount and Katherine Pershall". A total of "five sons and six daughters" were born to them. Bessie was the eldest. The family moved to Bewdley while Bessie was a young child. Bessie was well-educated, and taught important skills such as dancing and needlework, that would make her a respectable woman and wife. In late 1512 she became a maid for Catherine of Aragon. She would later become mistress to Henry VIII.
Bessie Blount is famous as mistress to Henry VIII, because she bore him the son he desperately desired. Norton's biography of Bessie will show her life after the affair with Henry VIII, her tenacity and perseverance in life, dedication and love for her children, her marriages, end of life, and legacy.

Thoughts:
Reading a non-fiction book is not the same as reading a historical fiction or fiction book. In the later the book is presented in story; whereas in a non-fiction book the facts are arranged and presented in a educational and hopefully stimulating format.
I wanted to explain the above because I feel readers miss this, sometimes the obvious is missed.

Bessie Blount: Mistress to Henry VIII is the first book I've read by Elizabeth Norton, it will not be my last. I have long anticipated reading one of her books and it is a pleasure to review it.

My reasons for giving this book 4 stars:

Elizabeth Norton knows British history, specifically medieval history. Suffice it to say, I'm impressed. The book begins with the genealogy of Bessie's family. Norton must have read and studied paperwork up to above her eyebrows. Not only do I admire her but I trust the information she's presented. She noted what information she found and where it came from. She was forthright in stating what was not known about Bessie.
I must admit I had prejudged Bessie. Shame on me. She was a woman of her era, not another era. Even if she had wanted to say no to having an affair with the king she would have had to anyway. A female was to be obedient to father and husband. To have another opinion was intolerable and hushed. I now feel I know her a bit more, both as a woman, historical figure, and person who intimately knew Henry VIII.
Bessie could had been an advantageous and cunning and deceptive woman. She was not. She could have utilized her status as mother to the son of the King. She did not. I admire Bessie for not becoming like so many women who are given a gift; she treasured the gift and did not use it for blackmail.

There are two things that led me to give this book 4 stars and not 5.

Print is too small.
The book begins with a heavy weight of information on Bessie's lineage, I muddled through this part until I got to Bessie's life. Other readers may not have the patience.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jacqueline Case

Not so much.

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2012

Verified Purchase

I bought this book thinking is was an historical biography. It is not. Too many paraprpahs/scenes/situations begin with "it could have been," "she may have," ...based on the convention of the time. Very disappointing. I learned nothing about her and did not finish the book.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Sue

One Star

Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2017

Verified Purchase

Very disappointed in the book, not her usual. The ebook did not even load the photos.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Raeberry

Will order more items in the future

Reviewed in Canada on August 24, 2018

Verified Purchase

I wish we would have learned about this important figure in school.

cosmicelk

has a lot of information

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2012

Verified Purchase

The author has managed to dig out all sorts of information. And has also noticed that it is possible that Elizabeth was not only "the mother of the King's son" but followed that with a daughter. Just a few quibbles. And one may have nothing to do with the author, which is that the cover picture is of a little girl called Anna Meyer, which Holbein drew in 1525 before he travelled to England. Has nothing to do with Elizabeth Blount.

6 people found this helpful

mum

bessie blount by Elizabeth Norton

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2012

Verified Purchase

Very informative. some times too many dates and names.Information about Bessie blount herself vague not due to the fault of Elizabeth Norton, lack of historial evidence even on her son Henry , duke of richmond. Perhaps this information is for a later book. Still written in an excelent maner. Enjoyable and would recomend

4 people found this helpful

M Winnett

Absorbing and deeply researched

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2020

Verified Purchase

The depth of research in this book is amazing. A really interesting insight into Bessie Blount's world.

One person found this helpful

Val

Boring Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2015