You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
dark
informative
medium-paced
Absolutely superb history of the treachery of Edward and Wallis. Highly recommend this well written, cohesive historical book .
“The Windsors, really the lowest of the low” is attributed to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and this book makes that look like a prescient and fair analysis. Selfish, coarse, and unsympathetic in all the ways that word is used. So much like his great great nephew and another horrid American divorcee wife.
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
A new biography about The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, that sounds very interesting, of course. The former king and his wife have made history and shaken the British monarchy. Edward VIII lost his heart to Wallis Simpson, a divorced woman, twice. Edward VIII wanted to continue with her, marry etc. However, that was not allowed in England at that time. Edward VIII persevered, abdicated and followed his heart. With the facts you now know, this abdication was the best thing that could have happened to the British Monarchy. Edward had good ties with the Nazis, which certainly did not go well in the years before the Second World War. You could also say that he jeopardized the crown twice. If you think away the Nazi ties, you can have a little sympathy for Edward, have the courage to give up the crown for the love of his life.
The book gives a lot of information such as about the Nazi event, their visit to Germany and the meeting with Hitler. The author also brings other scandals such as Wallis’ adultery, and addresses rumors of Edward VIII’s bisexual nature. That is all written in the details. Both Edward and Wallis. The biography mainly tells of Edward’s life after his abdication, his life in exile and his life with Wallis. What is even more apparent in the biography is that Edward and Wallis were much involved in scheming and intrigue, which of course did not benefit the English Monarchy and its relationship with the royal family. All for their position as well as their financial gain.
As a reader, you have the impression that the book has had good research. Good use is made of the sources, which are also neatly mentioned in the book. In this way new facts emerge. How about Edward and Wallis being monitored by British and American intelligence. Most astonishingly, the documents from the meeting with Hilter showed that the Duke would be willing to retake the throne if Britain capitulated to Germany.
Also, about Wallis, the necessary documents come forward with facts that make you blink. Extramarital relations with Nazi sympathizers. All these facts give you as a reader a certain image of the couple and that is not always positive. Edward and Wallis appear rather selfish in this biography, taking advantage of their self-made status, living in luxury with their homes in France, America. It gave them a certain image and they made good use of that with the jet-set and presidents (politically speaking). Yes, again for their own prestige and gain.
A book that is well-founded, not always easy to read, but is worth reading. The book is well written, with many new facts that I had not read before, all backed up with evidence. Facts that surprise you as a reader. You learn a lot about the Duke and Duchess, unfortunately not always in a positive way. You will see them differently after reading this book. A couple who plunged into scandal yet kept hoping for a place back in the royal family. This mainly makes Edward come across as a naive person. Wallis more calculated and knowing what she was doing.
Traitor King- The Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, yes scandalous it was what they were thinking and doing.
The book gives a lot of information such as about the Nazi event, their visit to Germany and the meeting with Hitler. The author also brings other scandals such as Wallis’ adultery, and addresses rumors of Edward VIII’s bisexual nature. That is all written in the details. Both Edward and Wallis. The biography mainly tells of Edward’s life after his abdication, his life in exile and his life with Wallis. What is even more apparent in the biography is that Edward and Wallis were much involved in scheming and intrigue, which of course did not benefit the English Monarchy and its relationship with the royal family. All for their position as well as their financial gain.
As a reader, you have the impression that the book has had good research. Good use is made of the sources, which are also neatly mentioned in the book. In this way new facts emerge. How about Edward and Wallis being monitored by British and American intelligence. Most astonishingly, the documents from the meeting with Hilter showed that the Duke would be willing to retake the throne if Britain capitulated to Germany.
Also, about Wallis, the necessary documents come forward with facts that make you blink. Extramarital relations with Nazi sympathizers. All these facts give you as a reader a certain image of the couple and that is not always positive. Edward and Wallis appear rather selfish in this biography, taking advantage of their self-made status, living in luxury with their homes in France, America. It gave them a certain image and they made good use of that with the jet-set and presidents (politically speaking). Yes, again for their own prestige and gain.
A book that is well-founded, not always easy to read, but is worth reading. The book is well written, with many new facts that I had not read before, all backed up with evidence. Facts that surprise you as a reader. You learn a lot about the Duke and Duchess, unfortunately not always in a positive way. You will see them differently after reading this book. A couple who plunged into scandal yet kept hoping for a place back in the royal family. This mainly makes Edward come across as a naive person. Wallis more calculated and knowing what she was doing.
Traitor King- The Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, yes scandalous it was what they were thinking and doing.
Fascinating in a slow train wreck kind of way. Whether they were traitors or just painfully naive will probably never be settled definitively. While there is a great deal of contemporary information cited (diaries, letters, reports) much of what would settle the question on way or the other is either missing or redacted. What is clear is that they were thoroughly unpleasant people, living aimless (and mind-numbingly boring) lives.
Prince Harry should have paid more attention to his history lessons. If he had been better informed about the Windsors he would have realised that there was no way in hell the British Royal Family would agree to his half in/half out proposal.
Prince Harry should have paid more attention to his history lessons. If he had been better informed about the Windsors he would have realised that there was no way in hell the British Royal Family would agree to his half in/half out proposal.
Thoroughly researched and deeply footnoted.
Painstakingly proving over and over that the Windsors were absolutely traitors to Britain during and after the war. Quotes indicating that the Duke was definitely antisemitic.
Easy to read, easy to follow, clear conclusion.
Painstakingly proving over and over that the Windsors were absolutely traitors to Britain during and after the war. Quotes indicating that the Duke was definitely antisemitic.
Easy to read, easy to follow, clear conclusion.
***Audiobook version***
I'm sure the content is fascinating but I got 45% through and my library hold expired. Since then I have been having SO MUCH TROUBLE getting back into it. Audiobook Narrator is very dry and difficult to follow. Didn't actually finish this and moving it to the "maybe I'll pick it up again someday" pile but I keep opening it, getting a few sentences in and switching to something else.
If you're thinking of getting the audiobook, make sure you're trapped in a car or something.
I'm sure the content is fascinating but I got 45% through and my library hold expired. Since then I have been having SO MUCH TROUBLE getting back into it. Audiobook Narrator is very dry and difficult to follow. Didn't actually finish this and moving it to the "maybe I'll pick it up again someday" pile but I keep opening it, getting a few sentences in and switching to something else.
If you're thinking of getting the audiobook, make sure you're trapped in a car or something.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
I am finishing up my Audible subscription, but I have been in a bit of a reading funk. I was recently listening to the The Royal History Geeks podcast series on the abdication crisis and they had the author on to discuss the topic. I figured that I enjoyed this book a lot the first time that I would listen to it and see if it helped me focus a bit more on other things I am hoping to read and it worked. Lownie's research and writing style make this book engaging and informative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Classism