"Bessie Hardwick and Her Circle" is a fascinating book by Maud Stepney Rawson, which reveals the life and activities of the outstanding English aristocrat and patron of the arts, Bessie Hardwick. In a carefully researched work, the author draws attention to the role played by Bessie in the social and political life of English society of the 16th century, her influence on the culture and architecture of the era. The book reveals not only the biography of this outstanding woman, but also the surrounding world, the circle of opponents, friends and influential people who surrounded Bessie Hardwick, creating an unparalleled portrait of one of the most interesting characters of the time."