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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
So much great detail & a timely read in light of current Royal Family events!
informative
medium-paced
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.
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.
Fascinating and grim. What miserable people both the duke and duchess were. The moment I learn that rich people are not paying their staff, my sympathies are lost forever. I felt that this was a reasonably fairhanded depiction of these individuals, and while the author is obviously not sympathetic to them, he treats them as fallible people, not as monsters or fools (well, not as any more foolish than they make themselves look).
By far my favorite type of book about history is where you get look into how mundane history is, and this books scratches that itch for me. How Edward was coddled by British politicians, how his family struggled with trying to keep him close enough to control, but far enough away to be able to ignore his demands and whining (and like....prevent him from passing intelligence to the Nazis!). How Edward seems like an idiot and a bore, but was also charismatic enough to manipulate people and get his way so often! Wallis' disdain of Edward and wishing she hadn't married him, but her seemingly inability not to be drawn in by the desire for power and prestige. How entitled and sad and angry and pathetic they were. What a mess, regardless of the sexual speculation, which is also very interesting.
By far my favorite type of book about history is where you get look into how mundane history is, and this books scratches that itch for me. How Edward was coddled by British politicians, how his family struggled with trying to keep him close enough to control, but far enough away to be able to ignore his demands and whining (and like....prevent him from passing intelligence to the Nazis!). How Edward seems like an idiot and a bore, but was also charismatic enough to manipulate people and get his way so often! Wallis' disdain of Edward and wishing she hadn't married him, but her seemingly inability not to be drawn in by the desire for power and prestige. How entitled and sad and angry and pathetic they were. What a mess, regardless of the sexual speculation, which is also very interesting.
I am so fascinated by this couple. This author makes them out to be both so incompetent and so competent at the same time. Were they good or bad? Was the monarchy better off without them? I personally think so.
The Duke feels like an overgrown child most of the time who is spoiled rotten. But then he has moments of almost clarity and seems functional. It was so interesting to read.
Wallace seems like she got in over her head and didn't really care about the Duke or anything once he abdicated. I think she was borderline a german spy but likely just needing attention.
The Duke feels like an overgrown child most of the time who is spoiled rotten. But then he has moments of almost clarity and seems functional. It was so interesting to read.
Wallace seems like she got in over her head and didn't really care about the Duke or anything once he abdicated. I think she was borderline a german spy but likely just needing attention.
I received this as an audiobook from NetGalley.
In a family tree full of really awful people- these two really stood out as the most clueless, anti-Semitic, and classist of the whole lot.
Also loved the subplot of the Windsors trying to get rid of all archival evidence of Edward and his wife clearly being Nazi sympathizers and/or accomplices.
In a family tree full of really awful people- these two really stood out as the most clueless, anti-Semitic, and classist of the whole lot.
Also loved the subplot of the Windsors trying to get rid of all archival evidence of Edward and his wife clearly being Nazi sympathizers and/or accomplices.