As detailed in this absorbing biography, Bess Myerson dazzled as a beauty queen, television personality, and politician–before scandal toppled her career
When Bess Myerson, the Bronx-born daughter of Jewish immigrants, was crowned Miss America in 1945, she was determined to break down gender barriers and be more than a beauty queen. Amid rampant anti-Semitism, she took advantage of her reign … advantage of her reign to call for an end to bigotry and hate. Then, after more than two decades as a glamorous television personality, Myerson took on corporate America, applying her celebrity as a consumer advocate to become an influential New York City political figure credited with helping elect Mayor Edward I. Koch. But behind the glittering public image, Myerson struggled with unhappy marriages. Then, in her early sixties, she found love with a much younger married man. The romance put her at the center of a political corruption scandal that led to federal charges brought by US Attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani, ending the reign of Queen Bess, New York’s favorite daughter, after more than forty years.
Award-winning investigative journalist Jennifer Preston reveals Myerson’s fascinating life story in this engaging biography. Featuring interviews with Myerson herself and a new introduction from the author, Queen Bess remains the most comprehensive account of this ambitious and talented woman who inspired, entertained, and shocked millions.
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Great read. showed Bess warts and all. Not judge mental, but gave detailed history of both her life and her times.
Interesting, easy reading, informative. Historical & factual but doesn’t read like a history book.
Interesting
Certainly showed sides of Bess Myerson that I would never have guessed about.
Remembering her as Miss America and on TV, I was surprised and disappointed in her actions later in her life.
Interesting read about Bess Myerson and her rise and fall. Some parts were tedius..didn’t need all that detail.
Detailed to the point of boredom! I couldn’t finish this book.
A very interesting book.
Slow moving story
It was interesting for a while and then it just got boring.
I enjoyed reading about the life of America’s first Jewish Miss America. I hadn’t really known about that fact until I saw it in the book. Bess Myerson had a rigid upbringing with her people all around her and affected the rest of her life and the way she reacted in her world in New York city. She was tough and I guess she had to be in that environment. Her beauty and poise allowed her to rise to high positions in politics and in the city government along with the Mayor of New York. I was saddened to discover she stooped to some really dumb decisions when she was confronted with temptations which was revealing a cry for help within her personality. She was able to leave the public eye with some dignity although she seemed to be locked in a competition for her lover. I think its a story worth reading.
Good read. Kept my interest
While all this occurred, I was living in New York City but did not know the amazing details as revealed in the book. After the first third of the book, it was a page turner. The reader may wonder why Bess caused such travesty in her life but putting all the events together the reader soon sees both the victim and accuser personality of Bess.
This certainly gives the other to side to the very public Bess. She was nothing like the facade she gave the public.
I was around when Bess Myerson was at her peak. But I don’t remember any of the details in the book so they surprised me. Her life was not to be envied. Well written.
I liked the first half very much. But on e it got i to tbe court cases it bogged down. It got repetitious and went on to long.
Interesting account of the life of Bess Myerson. Moves slowly.
Interesting. Being a former New Yorker during this era, enjoyed the political background material.