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rainbowbookworm's review
2.0
My grandma was all about Hello Magazine and the various European royal families, but I have never been. I knew about British royalty and the Princess of Monaco, but that is it. However, there is something about the story of Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII that I have found riveting. The pictures I had seen of them together didn't exactly convey loving couple and this book seemed to convey that.
susannahnah's review against another edition
3.0
Fascinating book, but nothing particularly special about the writing style. Sometimes it felt a bit scattered. What helped was the quality of the audiobook narration. She definitely made the book more enjoyable/digestible. The author’s opinion also sometimes played a greater roll in creating narrative than actual research and data
ricefun's review
3.0
I'm having a difficult time rating this book. From the perspective of research, writing, and engaging content, Morton has done a good job with his subject. From the standpoint of personality and attraction to the focus character, the stars would drop even lower.
Wallis (Simpson) Windsor certainly captured the world's attention by being an integral part of the abdication of Edward VIII in the early 1900's. While she is portrayed as having caused the crisis, Morton's study shows that in many ways she was trapped by the abdication instead of encouraging it.
I found no redeeming traits in this woman who chose to connect herself with others based on power and proximity instead of feelings of friendship and care. While Morton seemed to try to make Wallis as sympathetic of a character as possible, she dropped in my estimation through reading this portrayal. While there were certainly circumstances that swept Wallis into the paths she followed, at the many opportunities she had to show character and courage she instead chose personal ambition and selfishness. I will no longer glamorize anything having to do with this defunct branch of the British royal family.
Wallis (Simpson) Windsor certainly captured the world's attention by being an integral part of the abdication of Edward VIII in the early 1900's. While she is portrayed as having caused the crisis, Morton's study shows that in many ways she was trapped by the abdication instead of encouraging it.
I found no redeeming traits in this woman who chose to connect herself with others based on power and proximity instead of feelings of friendship and care. While Morton seemed to try to make Wallis as sympathetic of a character as possible, she dropped in my estimation through reading this portrayal. While there were certainly circumstances that swept Wallis into the paths she followed, at the many opportunities she had to show character and courage she instead chose personal ambition and selfishness. I will no longer glamorize anything having to do with this defunct branch of the British royal family.
revengelyne's review
4.0
Wallis Simpson was labeled one of the most hated women. To the people of Britain, she was seen as a temptress whom had made one of their beloved members of the royal family abdicate from the throne. Others may look back at her with relief and gratitude for luring away a king whom could have been a puppet to Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime.
What I liked about this book:
-The British Royal Family
-Wallis Simpson
What I didn't care for:
-Speculation
Check out the rest of this review at The Book Review
What I liked about this book:
-The British Royal Family
-Wallis Simpson
What I didn't care for:
-Speculation
Check out the rest of this review at The Book Review
dommdy's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Well researched and written, interesting and sad. Poor Edward. I don’t feel sorry for Wallis because she seemed like such an awful person, textbook narcissist. Full of the consequences of so many bad decisions.
disasterchick's review against another edition
2.0
Even Googling for images of Wallis Simpson one encounters pictures of Wallis and Megan Markle side by side. Both women are American divorcees that married into prominent members of the British royal family and leaving royal life. I saw Madonna's movie W which portrays Wallis as an abused wife that is saved by David. This book makes her out to be a manipulator with a very cold heart. For a woman dying in 1986 and having so little be known about her - granted we don't really know what is truth or fiction because she created her own truth - this is probably an accurate depiction. I thought it was interesting including Courtney Letts in the book as a doppelganger - because they said Wallis was too masculine and even questioned if she was a hermaphrodite - yet, Letts is one of the top four debutantes and was considered one of the 12 most beautiful people in America. As for changing the royal family - David/Edward stepped down to where she didn't get to be queen which most likely changed directions of WWII as he may have been more supportive of Hitler. I think the real changes happened with Queen Elizabeth not allowing her sister Margaret, daughter Anne, and son Charlies to marry the people they loved because they did not fit the royal standard. Seeing how their later marriages failed the Queen has become more relaxed in allowing her grandchildren to marry as they wish.