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stark1974's review against another edition
4.0
I feel that this is a great read about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. It’s hard to know who was the more tortured soul in their relationship, if either. Ignorance is bliss after all. The Duke strikes me as not intelligent enough to have malicious intent, but rather, intent to not be a common person by any means necessary. He wanted to be held at a higher standard than everyone else, at times even the sitting king, because of who he was at one time. Unfortunately, in his circle of friends/advisors, that was what happened. After the abdication he should have immediately lost his status and been labeled a common person. To read that the Duke and Duchess never changed their ways during the war when so many others were being oppressed was disgusting. I do believe that of the two, the Duchess was more manipulative and eager to make sure she lived a life of riches for her sacrifice of having to marry the Duke. I believe she bit off way more than she could chew getting involved with him. It’s all quite sad. Two lives that were essentially wasted.
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
4.0
For my complete review and all my other reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
Of course, I’m going to pick up a book on Edward VIII, who became the Duke of Windsor when he abdicated the British throne because he could not perform his duties “without the help of the woman I love.” It’s a great myth, and every book or documentary I read or watch now picks away at that popular myth as more and more information about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor has been revealed.
I’ve seen evidence to refute many of these claims in the book, just as I’ve seen evidence to support the thesis of Traitor King. I don’t know what’s true or not, but it certainly reads like a soap opera that I can’t help but follow.
Of course, I’m going to pick up a book on Edward VIII, who became the Duke of Windsor when he abdicated the British throne because he could not perform his duties “without the help of the woman I love.” It’s a great myth, and every book or documentary I read or watch now picks away at that popular myth as more and more information about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor has been revealed.
I’ve seen evidence to refute many of these claims in the book, just as I’ve seen evidence to support the thesis of Traitor King. I don’t know what’s true or not, but it certainly reads like a soap opera that I can’t help but follow.
amerika282's review against another edition
4.0
So much great detail & a timely read in light of current Royal Family events!
barreto's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Lownie is a journalist and a historian who has written a very well-researched book that is at the same time a page-turner. For those who know the literature about the Windsor couple, there may not be much new in this book, but there are some facts that are little or not known at all. Above all, it is a great synthesis of everything that is known about the post-abdication life of Edward VIII, written without any deference or complaisance. The ugliness, selfishness, greed and intellectual vacuity of both members of the couple is glaring. Their total lack of political reliability as well. However, this is attributable to the crudely presented facts and not to a murderous instinct on the part of the author. Until now, most biographers of the Windsors spared him because he was a member of the royal family. For Lownie, on the contrary, the Duke of Windsor's royalty is an aggravating factor. He's absolutely right.
aina21's review against another edition
4.0
This book deals with the life post-abdication of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
It makes no secret for its contempt and disregard for the Windsors, painting them as egotistical and vain individuals. It also chooses to not gloss over their Nazi sympathies and explores their involvement in World War 2. Not only that it also chooses to highlight their shortcomings as people, discussing the abominable way in which they treated their friends and staff, and their lack of interest in anything. Interestingly it discusses the Royal Families, and especially Winston Churchill's role in suppressing publications of highly incriminating documentation that linked them to Nazi Germany.
Their relationship is also explored throughout the book, especially focussing on the fact that they were both highly dependent on one another, and gave purpose to each other's lives, and how they could not afford to have their marriage fail. I felt that the part that explored their sex life (not their affairs which were also discussed) was unnecessary.
The writing style was engaging and of good quality, combing personal opinions and evidence effectively. Overall well written, with an easy-to-follow chronological structure.
It makes no secret for its contempt and disregard for the Windsors, painting them as egotistical and vain individuals. It also chooses to not gloss over their Nazi sympathies and explores their involvement in World War 2. Not only that it also chooses to highlight their shortcomings as people, discussing the abominable way in which they treated their friends and staff, and their lack of interest in anything. Interestingly it discusses the Royal Families, and especially Winston Churchill's role in suppressing publications of highly incriminating documentation that linked them to Nazi Germany.
Their relationship is also explored throughout the book, especially focussing on the fact that they were both highly dependent on one another, and gave purpose to each other's lives, and how they could not afford to have their marriage fail. I felt that the part that explored their sex life (not their affairs which were also discussed) was unnecessary.
The writing style was engaging and of good quality, combing personal opinions and evidence effectively. Overall well written, with an easy-to-follow chronological structure.