Abdication [Hardcover]

I am discombobulated. I hate saying that I don't like a book, it distresses me greatly; particularly when I was so sure it would be right up my street. Abdication by Juliet Nicolson tells the familiar story of the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 over his relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson. The twist here, however, is that the story is told through the eyes of May Thomas, a chauffeur of British extraction newly arrived from Barbados and Evangeline Nettlefold, an old school friend of Wallis Simpson. So far so good: the events of the story can be told as we know they have occurred but these two can inject a little more variety into the mix.

But, despite this being an era in history that I really enjoy reading and learning about, Abdication just didn't do it for me I'm sorry to say. That's not to say that the book didn't have good points, for instance I really did like May as a heroine. She was young, capable and bore tragedy with great strength, but it seemed that the events of her daily life had little to do with the Abdication, so her part could have been in any novel about the 1930s. Evangeline Nettlefold was a little closer to the action, being a friend of Wallis Simpson, but even she doesn't really add much in the way of insight.

I guess my biggest problem, though, is that while the author can't be faulted for her impeccable research, it seems as though she went to the library, made fifty pages of notes, then set about cramming the whole lot into the book even when they were barely relevant, for example, she includes a great deal of information about advertising posters on the wall of the Lyon's Cornerhouse, when the characters only popped in there for a cuppa.

So, despite it's slightly redeeming qualities, I really can't add a positive review for this book which annoys me very much indeed. Harumph!

After two works of non-fiction (The Great Silence and The Perfect Summer) Juliet Nicolson has written her first novel 'Abdication'. It is 1936 and, after the death of King George V, his successor, Edward VIII is on the throne. England in the 1930s is a rather unsettled period in time; unemployment figures are high and many of the working class are not working; the nation is still suffering from some of the effects of the First World War, and now it appears that there is the possibility of another conflict ahead. And set against this unsettled backdrop is the matter of the love affair between King Edward and the American divorcee, Mrs Wallis Simpson.

A long way from London and the affairs of the royal family, nineteen-year-old May Thomas arrives at Liverpool Docks after leaving the sugar plantation in Barbados where she grew up. Once in England, May makes her way to relatives in London and manages to obtain an interesting post as secretary and driver to Sir Phillip Blunt, who is Chief Whip in Stanley Baldwin's Conservative government, and it is through her work for Sir Philip and Lady Jane Blunt that May becomes involved in the lives of those in the upper echelons of British society. While at the Blunt's home, May meets Julian Richardson, an Oxford undergraduate and family friend and, against her better judgement, she begins to fall in love with him. However, Julian has caught the unwanted eye of Evangeline Nettlefield, the middle-aged American god daughter of Lady Jane Blunt, and a rather unfortunate woman who, through her affliction with alopecia, has lost her hair. Julian, understandably, has no feelings for Evangeline other than pity, but he finds this difficult to convey to her. Meanwhile, carrying out her chauffeuring duties for Sir Philip, May becomes friendly with Evangeline as she drives her to visit an old school friend of hers, Wallis Simpson, and it is through Wallis and Evangeline's friendship that the reader is able to gain access to the affair of the King and Mrs Simpson and to some of the events which lead up to the abdication.

I was looking forward to reading Juliet Nicolson's first work of fiction and was very pleased when my sister obtained an early copy of 'Abdication' and gave it to me to read and to review; however I was, unfortunately, not as impressed with this book as I hoped to be. The premise of the story appeared good, but the execution of it and the characterisations seemed to be a little lacking. The author's focus appeared to be on setting the scene - which was done very well - but I felt there was insufficient fleshing out of the characters and I felt that several of the situations created and described were not entirely convincing. That said, I found parts of this novel interesting and, as already mentioned, the author is good at describing her settings; so, if you enjoy a lot of background detail in your stories, this book could work well for you as a holiday or downtime read.

3 Stars.

Ms Nicolson is a very gifted historian - but not a novelist. Fiction simply is not her genre and she does not make the leap. I bought this because I wanted to read it, I liked her other work, and I love the period. No, this is just plain not very good as a story and staggering it got published as one.

STAGGERING.

How did a submissions committe in this crowded market pass this? Well, no risk we suppose - it says everything about the state of publishing when every rule about engaging the reader is tossed aside.

I gave up after three chapters.

Yes, the research is impeccable - so write a non-fiction book.

But the lady driver story just is plain ridiculous. After chapter two I was egging on trying to find the plot, please make me want to read this... where is it? And then we get endless back story that breaks every rule and means we don't engage with any character at all.

I don't think I've ever given a one star review - so, golly, that shows how frustrated and cheated I feel that the writer and her editor put this out there to spend good money on.

Such a waste of material.