- Paperback: 590 pages
- Publisher: Aurum Press Ltd; 2nd Revised edition edition (25 Sep 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 185410943X
- ISBN-13: 978-1854109439
- Product Dimensions: 19 x 13 x 4.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
36,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #59 in Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > 1901 Onwards
- #86 in Books > Biography > British Royalty
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Product Description
Review
'One of the essential books in any halfway-complete collection of books on the Windsors' - Royalty Digest
Product Description
More than sixty years on, the relationship between King Edward VIII and Wallis Warfield Simpson, a twice-divorced American woman, remains one of the love affairs of the twentieth century. Its ability still to yield new sensation and capture the front pages all over again has been demonstrated once more in recent weeks with the revelations of the Duchess's affair, once the King had abdicated to marry his mistress and become the Duke of Windsor, with a car salesman allegedly called Guy Trundle. Wrongly blamed for the Abdication crisis, Wallis Simpson suffered constant hostility from the Royal Family and much of the world, and a thinly-veiled animosity towards her informs many accounts of her life. But Greg King has sifted through the decades of rumour and accusation to reveal the woman behind the legend. The truth he discovers is infinitely more fascinating. Marshalling a huge array of documentation, including newly declassified papers in German military files and the Public Records Office, as well as interviews with hundreds of contemporary witnesses, he presents for the first time a complete and sympathetic portrait of the Duchess.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having been fed with the royal family's version of the Duchess of Windsor for years this book was a welcome change...a more balanced and perhaps objective account of the much maligned Duchess. I doubt many people would know (or indeed bothered to find out) that there was more to this lady than just her much publicised "frivolous" lifestyle.The factual account of events would certainly torpedo any beliefs that Wallis Simpson was the sole cause of the 1936 abdication. However, in light of recent revelations about Wallis' affair with another gentleman (while still married to Ernest Simpson and being pursued by the then Prince of Wales) one could equally argue that this book had not made a concerted attempt to show the Duchess' flaws. Indeed while undoubtedly a refreshing and interesting insight into her life this book is in danger of putting her on the pedestal as the victim of the Royal family's (esp the Queen Mother's) vendetta without any attempt to balance it with the other side of the story. Overall impression: Great read, well researched biography but some omissions and a tendency to glorify the Duchess of Windsor a bit too much
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I very much enjoyed this readable and fluid biography of the Duchess of Windsor. King moves smoothly through the episodes of her life without becoming embroiled in minutiae, thus providing an excellent overview. The extensive bibliography affords the reader the opportunity to further investigate any particular aspect.
Unsurprisingly, King, an American, is very sympathetic and a trifle over romantic in his portrayal of the Duchess. However, to his credit he states from the outset that this book is not designed to be the definitive work on the Duchess and he delivers on this promise.
As a result of interviews with both friends and foes of the Duke and Duchess the book contains many interesting quotes bringing many historical characters back to life. For dedicated Royal watchers these provide an insight into the characters of King George VI, the late Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II and a host of other members of the Royal family, revealing the attitudes shown towards the Duchess. However paralells drawn between the Duchess and Diana, Princess of Wales come across as a gimmick to attract the myriad of the Princess's fans in the US and were somewhat irrelevant.
King also explores many of the rumours and theories put forward by other biographers such as Bloch and Higham. Without being over technical he presents an interesting and sound assessment of the legal and consitutional issues surrounding King George VI's refusal to grant the Duchess the style of Her Royal Highness.
A unique work in its attempt to show the Duchess in a sympathetic light, this book should be a welcome addition to any collection on the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you want to take an enjoyable journey into the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's "Windsor Wonderland," then read Greg King's book. Maybe I'm and incurable romantic, or maybe I am more receptive to a positive focus on the Windsor love story, but I am impressed with Mr. King's descriptive ability and vindication of the much maligned Duchess of Windsor. In addition to inviting the reader into the larger than life existence of THE trend setting lovers of the 20th Century, Mr. King shows how down to earth the Duchess was during the war years while living in the Bahamas. Oh yes, there are vivid descriptions of the lavish surroundings the Duchess created for the former King of England, but she took her responsibilities seriously and guarded against making social mistakes. The result of her efforts actually set social standards. The jewel in the (never to be worn) crown has to be the successful, happy marriage to her husband of 35 years. Bravo Greg! WE have been waiting for a book like yours. The Windsors would be pleased.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Class - Being vs Having It
The myth of The Great Duchess of Windsor will always be remain only that even though many biographies have been written and re-written, attempting to come closer to this recluse... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Sami Lennox
a thorough and unbiased telling of oft maligned woman.
This thorough and fair balanced book clears away the myths and untruths that have circulated the western world since the abdication and subsequent marriage of Wallis Warfield to... Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2001
Great book for Windsor admirers- breath of fresh air!
The author begins this book by dedicating it to Pss.Diana, who had visited the Windsor Villa in Paris prior to her tragic death, and ends it by describing the 1997 Sotheby's... Read more
Published on 26 July 1999
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