Queen Bess: An Unauthorized Biography of Bess Myerson

by Jennifer Preston

This “fascinating” biography details the rise of the first Jewish Miss America, TV star, and political player—and the scandal that toppled her career (The New York Times). 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 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.

Genres: Biography

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2016

Reviews

[Mirachil27 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too beautiful, too rich...

What a fascinating story. It is a microcosm of New York life, from the 40s to the 80 S including celebrity culture, politics, ethnic mix, prejudice, cronyism and the way even the most tightly controlled image as the perfect person is bound to crack someday.

I remember Myerson as I was growing up on I've Got a Secret and during her heady Consumer Advocate days in the 70's. She was poised and beautiful, but I always sensed a coldness and a somewhat patronizing arrogance about her.

This book shows all her personas, among which we are challenged to choose which one is the real Queen Bess. In some ways the book vindicates my early opinion of her but also offers reasons for the greedy, grasping, controlling gorgon she could often be. I also learned about her soft and generous sides, but even those are made suspect by the author's insinuation that there was always a self-serving motive behind these spontaneous acts of kindness.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jennifer Preston has a clear writing style that seamlessly weaves hero worship, celebrity gossip and facts into a fast-paced book that is hard to put down. Whether you loved Bess or hated her, you will find a lot in this book to chew on.

[Joanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography of the first Jewish Miss America, Bess Myerson, is interesting for an unexpected reason. Published in 1990, it was written several years after she was embroiled in scandal in New York where she had lived virtually all her life. After court proceedings concluded, she eventually moved to California where she lived in very private life until her death in 2014. She was clearly a very complicated person, and ultimately her life was terribly sad. What was interesting, however, is that in reading about how reckless Rudy Guiliani and his prosecutors were in trying to "get" Bess, her boyfriend and the judge who ruled in her boyfriend's divorce case by careless using the judge's daughter in the case against her, it's easy to see in retrospect that the Rudy Guiliani of today has always been there. When he was younger and not as drunk and addled with dementia, he might have been able to cover his recklessness a little better, but now he simply looks foolish.

[Jeannine A. Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

hAuthor Uncovers And Reveals The True Bess Myerson

Jennifer Preston does a superb job of writing this book. She did so much research, interviewing, attending the trial, and being right in there and speaking to and with the primary subject. Not only the primary but almost the entire first tier of important personalities. Her thoroughness can only be attributed to her background as a reporter with the New York Times.

I wanted to stop reading this book so many times only because of my personal disgust for Bess Myerson. Time after time I returned to the book because of the author's dynamite writing skills Preston just kept drawing the reader back into the story.

I never knew about this sc
was too busy raising a family in the Midwest and also working outside the home. Personally I anmmmmmm!m

[Len Knighton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too long, with superfluous quotes that added nothing. The trial account went on and on.
Bess Myerson was a popular television personality when I was growing up in the fifties and sixties. I remember her modeling fur coats, her long arms extending the coat for all to see. She was a regular on I've Got a Secret and occasional panelist on other New York City based quiz shows. Indeed, I think she personified the magic that was New York City in that era. If you grew up then, she was one of the beauties of television.
My grandfather loved Bess Myerson. I don't think he would have loved this book.

Three stars waning

[Mike Calabrese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but Uneven

I remember seeing Bess Myerson on I've got a Secret when I was a kid in the early 1960's. I thought that she was very beautiful back then. That's why I downloaded this e-book. I enjoyed reading about Ms. Myerson's life. However I thought that the book was too light on her early life and spent too much time on her corruption trial. Also, my e-book ended at 76%. Strange.

[Patricia Hoag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad Story

Proof that beauty is only skin deep.
She is the most remembered Miss America by the baby boomer generation, though she was crowned just prior to it. She made a name for herself on tv. We all knew and admired her in those days without knowing the real person behind the brilliant smile.

[Carol Nemecek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written

This book is not a biography as stated in the title, but the retelling of the development and procedures of a trial. It is well written but more a trial and verdict than anything else.

[Letty Kale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bess Myerson

Examines the complicated issue of the differences between a person’s public and private lives as well as the pride and/or shame in the actions of those separate personas

[Charlene A. Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting woman

There weren't many areas of New York that she didn't have an impact in some way.

She was very good at helping the downtrodden.

Good tead

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen Bess

A good read-little long. Interesting Rudy Giuliani appeared as a character. Can’t help admiring her life and accomplishments. Recommend especially if you 55+

[Marcea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long winded and needs to be updated - ends in 1988