The Real Wallis Simpson: A New History of the American Divorcée Who Became the Duchess of Windsor

While I agree with the author's attempt to un-demonize Wallis, and make her more sympathetic to history, I feel in some ways this book went way too far in the other direction. Honestly--the title should have been Saint Wallis, or something. Yes--she was a nice, charming, intelligent woman BUT there's no getting around the fact that she was ALSO a desperate, grasping social climber when she first met Edward, a woman who (nice person though she might be) became ADDICTED to the jewels and status he gave her--who couldn't really say no to him when he offered her his undying love. (Even when she was already married to a nice guy.)I feel like the author breezes over the reasons WHY she was that way: Wallis's childhood and romantic past before she met Edward--IE - her shame during her formative years at being the illegitimate poor relation of a very prominent Baltimore family, her first disastrous, abusive marriage and the disgrace she was in as a "divorcee" in an era where a woman's only power was the man she was married to, and an unrequited love affair after the end of her first marriage that ended badly. (Before Ernest, Walllis fell in love with a diplomat who rejected her because she wasn't good enough. This isn't even mentioned in the book)No wonder she craved the King's power and money (but was actually bored by the man)! But it also explains why she didn't let the King go long before the relationship got too intense, and was unable to really reject him for long. Therefore she ended up being manipulated into a 35 year marriage to a spoiled boy-ex-King, and vilified by history.During the marriage--Yes--she planned beautiful parties for him and decorated wonderful homes to make him happy , but at heart--the abdication made Wallis cruel and abusive towards Edward in their marriage because she was bitter and resentful about being trapped (also glossed over in the book.)Explaining why these things happened would have made Wallis a much more interesting, complex, flawed and totally understandable HUMAN character. And frankly this would have been a much more enjoyable read. Saints are boring. Wallis's story deserved better.

Another book about Wallis and Edward? Haven't they published every known occurrence in their shallow, selfish lives?Anna Pasternak, whose great-uncle was Russian writer Boris Pasternak, wrote a lovely book about his great love, Lara, which I loved. But she knew her information through family and friends of the family. Can anyone who knew the Windsors still be alive? Evidently, yes.Yes, it is a re-hash of everything we have read before in numerous books over the years. There are a few tidbits I didn't know about that were revealed, but certainly nothing earthshattering.It is what she didn't say that worries me. She writes about the war between the Queen Mother (Queen Elizabeth II's mother) and Wallis Simpson, but she leaves out an incident which poisoned the possibility of there ever being a truce between the two women that happened one day at Fort Belvedere. As Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Windsor walked into a room unannounced, she overheard Wallis doing a spot-on impersonation of her voice to a gaggle of guests. She stopped in her tracks, gave Wallis a frosty stare, and left. Did this happen? It is written about in numerous books.When I was living and working in London in the late 60s and early 70s, I dated someone whose family knew the Duke & Duchess well. He brought it up casually one afternoon as we walked through Hyde Park. "I can assure you, there won't be a marriage between one of the royals and an American for some time. Perhaps never" he said. Well, 50 years later there was such a union. A royal prince to a divorced American woman with a ditzy family and a D-List acting background! I could hear Wallis cackling her head off as the two were wed. I call Meghan, 'Wallis's Revenge'! Sadly, she is going to have a tough row to hoe throughout her marriage to Prince Harry. He may have to abdicate his position in order to live a happy life with her and their family. I can see them living outside the royal family doing their own thing on their own. Surely this idea has not skipped Her Majesty's thoughts, as well. History repeating itself.Ms. Pasternak also mentions the TV series, Edward & Mrs. Simpson, which I have watched over and over through the years. She speaks about what a wonderful job actor Edward Fox did playing the Duke, but fails to mention the incredible job Cynthia Harris does as Wallis. I can't understand how she omitted this, as the book is about her, as well. For me, Ms. Harris WAS Wallis Simpson. No one has come close to capturing her look and voice and probably never will.Back to my English friend, Patrick. During our walk he told me that he knew, as gospel, the truth about Wallis Simpson will never, ever see the light of day. "My dear, you have NO idea who and what this woman really was! Thank God she came along and stole our King before Hitler could get a hold of him! Had she not, we would be speaking German today!" D. J. Taylor wrote a novel about Wallis dying just before they wed and what Edward's life would have been like as a single King. Entitled The Windsor Factor, it is well worth reading. Taylor has a breathtaking way with words.If you were to stop one of the high school students who go to school next door to my building and ask them who Wallis and Edward were, not one of them would know who you were talking about. Ms. Pasternak's readership for this book is probably aged 60+. My own daughter, aged 45 wouldn't know who they were, nor would she care' I foolishly titled my review of Andrew Morton's book, 'The Sun Finally Sets On The Windsors.' I should have waited until this book came out.While I enjoyed hearing the story over again, I think about what Patrick said so many decades ago that the truth will never, ever be revealed about both of them. I did not know that Edward was rendered sterile by mumps as a child or that she had a delicate sexual condition that made it impossible for her to have children. This was never mentioned in previous books. A perfect match, then, isn't it?I closed the book tonight at 11 having spent most of the day reading it from cover-to-cover. Do these two people truly merit our interest after all these years? Not really. Most of what has been written is a fabrication by the authors to perpetuate a Disney movie scenario for the ages. The price they paid for their folly was beyond any sacrifice for love anyone has ever endured. Perhaps that is why their 'love story' endures.

I've read pretty much every book about the DoW that has been published. This book adds nothing much new, and mostly takes it's material from the other books. No new insight.

This new biography of Wallis Simpson (which was published with the title "Untitled"in the UK which is much more appropriate) is a fascinating new insight into an historical character we think we know. The author succeeds in rescuing Wallis Simpson from the two-dimensional historical treatment she has largely received to date and reveals her as a complicated, intelligent and largely sympathetic character. This book is a woman's take on a story that until now has largely been told by men and it is fascinating. The biography reads like a novel; even though you know what happens you do not want to put it down as the story unfolds.

I thought this book was extremely well researched and written. I have always been fascinated with Wallace Simpson and have read several books on her life. This book represents a slightly different slant. I was very touched by the epilogue of the book when the author expressed her own feelings on this very misunderstood woman. Again, it presented the royal family in a harsh cold light and as a reader I could feel the coldness of family emotions that perhaps contributed to the neediness if this man to cling to the warmth of Wallis. I am glad they lay together at peace under the plane tree at Frogmore. An excellent bedtime read.

Nothing new here, compared to previous biographies. If you have a genuine interest in The Duchess of Windsor, read 'The Heart has it's Reasons" (her own account, although glossing over certain parts of her life), "Duchess" by Stephen Birmingham (excellent) and even 'That Woman' by Anne Sebba. Far more detail in their accounts.

This is a most succinct account of the abdication of former King Edward V111 and his marriage to Wallis Simpson. I have read most accounts of the abdication and so found this book interesting in that Wallis Simpson is very much brought to the fore; she deserves it.I did not find anything new in this book other than accounts of Wallis Simpson from those who knew her in her lifetime. She comes across as a warmer and more integrated personality than in other accounts.This book is very good as a readable, succinct and fair account of a much demonised woman; a woman who did not deserve her demonisation. It is a sad enough story.

The Windsors are always fascinating as their tragedy is so powerful, but there is nothing in this book which hasn't been better examined, researched, or argued before. Even the 'exclusive photos' add zero to our knowledge of the whole Edward VIII saga, nor increased our emotional links. So in all, a shallow disappointing book not worth reading.

This well-written, balanced and poignant biography should be required reading for anyone interested in the crammed history of the 20th Century. The Duchess was far from blameless, but it was her spoiled, self-indulgent and largely brainless husband, who managed to say and do almost everything inappropriate during his Country’s struggle for its existence. Thank Heaven that he abdicated just in time.The American Duchess was vain, crassly unaware, or careless, of the impact of her extravagance and never quite sure which society she sought to conquer. Nevertheless, she was brave, intelligent and loyal to the man-child, who bribed her into a marriage that was suffocating, sterile and truly sad.

I couldn't put this book down. Everything I have ever believed about the Windsors is reflected in Anna Pasternak's compassionate and well-researched account of their lives. Although I have read every book published about the Windsors, the author touches on the real human side of these much-maligned people who, despite the cruel rejection and trials that faced them simply because of the times and royal pomp, retained their humour, dignity and integrity to the very end. I am full of admiration for the Duke whose only crime was to fall in love and who made the difficult and brave decision to abdicate. The poor Duchess faced so much vitriol by society’s holier-than-thou, yet in modern times she would have had no such experience. To those who knew them best, the Duke and Duchess were kind and sincere, and did much good for others when they were allowed to. I truly hope that this book will go some way to enlighten and soften the views of even the most hardened Windsor-haters out there, lest you have hearts of steel.