Just days after the close of World War II, Bess Myerson, the college-educated daughter of poor Russian Jewish immigrants living in the Bronx, is competing in the Miss America pageant. At stake: a $5,000 scholarship. The tension and excitement in Atlantic City’s Warner Theatre is palpable, especially for traumatized Jews rooting for one of their own. So begins Bessie. Drawing on biographical and historical sources, Bessie reimagines the early life of Bess Myerson, who, in the bigoted milieu of 1945, remarkably rises to become Miss America and one of the most famous women in America. This intimate fictional portrait reveals Myerson’s inner struggles to escape her roots and fulfill her fierce desire to make her mark on the world. Bessie is a tender study of a bold young woman living at a precarious moment in our cultural history.
Fiction
Bessie: A Novel
September 1, 2021
Discussion Questions
Courtesy of Linda Kass
- Why do you think Bessie was so insecure, always seeking approval and acceptance?
- How do you think Bessie’s family life affected who she became?
- What was the impact of the community of Sholem Aleichem on forming Bessie’s character?
- What did the role of music play in Bessie’s life? What did Bessie love so much about performing?
- What role did Dorothy LaFollette play in Bessie’s life?
- What do you think was the impact of attending the High School of Music & Art on Bessie’s growth and development?
- How do you think the war itself impacted Bessie’s college life?
- Do you think Bessie would have competed in Miss America had there not been a $5,000 scholarship?
- What friendships do you think had the strongest impact on Bessie?
- What role did Sylvia play in Bessie’s life?
- Talk about the relationship Bess had with Lenora Slaughter.
- How do you think a Jewish girl like Bess Myerson overcame the bigotry of her time to rise above it and be held in such esteem?
- Why do you think it was hard for Bess to accept her own beauty?
- Do you think accomplished and beautiful women today have difficulty being seen for, and given credit for, their accomplishments?
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