The Secret Lives of Bessie Martin

Who was Bessie Martin? For many years her life remained a mystery, her name seldom spoken, her secrets hidden. The silence surrounding her life was rooted in shame.

As a small girl growing up in Wellington, Bessie's life was shattered by her father's shocking death, destroying the family she knew. Her adoption by a couple in Masterton meant a heart-breaking separation from her four siblings and a new name: Bessie Bradford. Later, her marriage to a handsome Scotsman transformed her life yet again. Finally settling in Auckland, Bessie Watt was a devoted wife and loving mother, but the birth of her sixth and final child resulted in a devastating illness, considered so shameful it remained a secret for almost a century.

Bessie's grandson Ian Watt has pieced together these strands to try to make sense of her life. Using the verified facts obtained from historical records, he tells Bessie's extraordinary story in the form of a novel, allowing her to emerge from the shameful shadows. The traumatic events in Bessie's life were not of her making. She was a much-loved daughter, sister, wife, and mother, who navigated every obstacle with courage and dignity.

The Secret Lives of Bessie Martin invites readers to journey through the poignant story of a woman whose life was defined by resilience and steadfast love.