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The Duchess of Windsor: The Truth About the Royal Family's Greatest Scandal
Royal scandal is nothing new. In 1936, the royal family was rocked by events that threatened its very existence. Edward VIII, King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire, Emperor of India, gave up his throne. A constitutional crisis ensued. The reason? He intended to marry Wallis Simpson - a divorcee.In The Duchess of Windsor, Michael Bloch tells her fascinating story. This is the definitive biography of the woman Edward prized above his crown. Drawing on first-hand access to their intimate correspondence, it paints a picture of Simpson which was often startlingly at variance with the official story as reported at the time. It brings vividly to life the qualities which captivated her royal suitor, and on publication caused outrage and surprise by uncovering the great mysteries of her life.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 27, 2022
This was the second biography that I have read about Wallis Warfield Simpson, being much more comprehensive & fairer to Wallis than the previous one; however I am only giving it 3 stars because once again it seems to be preoccupied with 'the masculinity' of this female, with the usual comments about her large bony jawline & square-shaped hands. Just for the record I would like to point out that Keira Knightley, a present day filmstar, has a somewhat square jawline yet no-one bangs on about her being overly masculine. Later, he even adds comments that her physique became 'masculine' whenever she gained weight, this being given as reason why she stayed so thin! Not once does he comment on her lovely legs, so this preoccupation with her physical appearance is somewhat astounding. Other than that, this bio is fairly comprehensive with some lovely photos and a lot of detail about the abdication 'crisis' , putting Wallis in a much more favourable light & bringing somewhat to the fore, the hostility of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (wife to George VI) -- all this does all seem rather silly given how the now present King (Charles III) is a divorcee himself & has married a divorcee. How times have changed since the mid-1930s! A good & thorough read & shows much more clearly how the relationship developed between these two people, all somewhat surprising as it appears that Wallis originally had no idea that it would develop into a long-lasting marriage, with 'David' being so dependent upon her socialising skills & cleverness with managing money. Definitely worth reading to wash away some of the highly prejudiced criticism of this famous woman.
January 11, 2022
Outstanding!!!!
Enjoyed reading what perhaps was the real story she was always portrayed as an selfish individual after reading this I think she gave up so much to make him happy I think she did !
Enjoyed reading what perhaps was the real story she was always portrayed as an selfish individual after reading this I think she gave up so much to make him happy I think she did !
June 24, 2022
Several years ago I read a highly amusing and bizarre book about the Duchess of Windsor that was written by Caroline Blackwood (she who also had a very colorful and noteworthy life. She was a writer who was married to painter Lucien Freud and then poet Robert Lowell). In that book, Blackwood recounts the obstacles she confronted in her attempts to write an article about the Duchess. These obstacles came in the form of the Duchess's lawyer, Maitre Suzanne Blum, who was charge of all of the Duchess's affairs for the last decade of her life (when the Duchess was confined to her bed and who even lost the ability to speak). Blackwood repeatedly mentions the struggles she had with Blum, as well as with Blum's assistant, Michael Bloch, who went on to write this book about the Duchess.
So I approached this book with the idea that it would be a highly biased "throwaway" book. I was surprised to find how much I actually enjoyed Bloch's effort here, and developed a feeling of extreme sympathy toward the Duke and Duchess, and an appreciation for their relationship with each other. (Again, fully recognizing the bias of Bloch's account.) What he did well was that he let the Duke and Duchess speak for themselves throughout most of the book, in the form of quoting their letters to each other, as well as the Duchess's letters to her Aunt (her only living relative). He also included several dozen photographs of the letters themselves, as well as of the Duke and Duchess throughout their 30+ years of marriage.
Indeed, Bloch had rare access to these letters and to many details about the Duchess that other writers like Caroline Blackwood sought. He even admits to this privilege in the last few pages of the book, which is an admission of how biased toward the Duchess he was. Still, a decently done account of the Duchess's life that paints her in a highly flattering light.
So I approached this book with the idea that it would be a highly biased "throwaway" book. I was surprised to find how much I actually enjoyed Bloch's effort here, and developed a feeling of extreme sympathy toward the Duke and Duchess, and an appreciation for their relationship with each other. (Again, fully recognizing the bias of Bloch's account.) What he did well was that he let the Duke and Duchess speak for themselves throughout most of the book, in the form of quoting their letters to each other, as well as the Duchess's letters to her Aunt (her only living relative). He also included several dozen photographs of the letters themselves, as well as of the Duke and Duchess throughout their 30+ years of marriage.
Indeed, Bloch had rare access to these letters and to many details about the Duchess that other writers like Caroline Blackwood sought. He even admits to this privilege in the last few pages of the book, which is an admission of how biased toward the Duchess he was. Still, a decently done account of the Duchess's life that paints her in a highly flattering light.
November 2, 2016
I have read quite a few books on the Duke and Duchess and this one is my least favorites so far.
Bloch is an associate of the Duchess' lawyer so I did not expect a tell all but it so sympathetic to the Duchess you wonder if he was being realistic in his portrayal. Being a royalist groupie I have read most of the books on the Windsors. While this story seems no big deal today, one can imagine the Royal Family going through a daily hell wondering when the next shoe was going to drop with regard to the Prince of Wales. The truth is told in many comments by his friends and servants that the Prince of Wales did not want to be King. I think that if it had not been for Wallis there would have been someone else or something else that would have precipitated the abdication.
Bloch is an associate of the Duchess' lawyer so I did not expect a tell all but it so sympathetic to the Duchess you wonder if he was being realistic in his portrayal. Being a royalist groupie I have read most of the books on the Windsors. While this story seems no big deal today, one can imagine the Royal Family going through a daily hell wondering when the next shoe was going to drop with regard to the Prince of Wales. The truth is told in many comments by his friends and servants that the Prince of Wales did not want to be King. I think that if it had not been for Wallis there would have been someone else or something else that would have precipitated the abdication.
October 10, 2012
This was a stunning biography on the Duchess of Windsor. Was it completely accurate?? I'm not sure, but I don't think we will ever understand her completely. Nevertheless, the pictures in this book really added to the understanding of what happened between these two individuals. The King of England adored this woman so much, he abdicated his throne to marry her. So much of this relationship was fascinating and borders on unhealthy at times. So much to learn- I can't wait to read another book on her life!
May 2, 2011
Good light overview of her life and her marriage to the Duke. She seems to be less of a villainess than a lot of television representations make her out to be. Interesting and unanswered questions about her possible lifetime virginity and her ability to have sex at all... I admired her organizational abilities and her decorating and fashion sense. Would very much like to read more about her and the Duke
February 12, 2018
I appreciate this volume not only for the text-by a Wallis intimate of her later years-but for the photographs.
March 17, 2025
Just adequate
The book is really only interesting bc it is told from the point of view of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. King Edward VIII was so obsessed by Wallis that he threatened suicide rather than lose her. From any point of view he sounds deeply disturbed and his abdication was fortuitous for the British people. I will have to read other accounts of their lives. I don't know how objective this account is.
The book is really only interesting bc it is told from the point of view of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. King Edward VIII was so obsessed by Wallis that he threatened suicide rather than lose her. From any point of view he sounds deeply disturbed and his abdication was fortuitous for the British people. I will have to read other accounts of their lives. I don't know how objective this account is.
October 27, 2020
I gave this a three star rating because if you read "The Secret Files if the Duke of Windsor" by the same author it's the same information.
January 31, 2017
Interesting enough. Quite a surprising theory revealed at the end!
August 15, 2011
I am utterly fascinated by Wallis Simpson and the Ex King. The author is unbelievably biased. According to him, Wallis was an innocent blown and tossed by the cruel world. But reading through that, you can get a good outline of her life through the many letters, pictures and interviews.
July 25, 2013
Purely a summer read and a quick one at that. Lots of great pix. He had great taste in jewelry, that's about the only reason to read the book, is to see the pix of jewelry he gave her. Both of them were otherwise a bit . . . off.
November 1, 2013
Frank, but not too damning, portrait of the Duchess. Lots of great pics, essentially a coffee table book in miniature.
July 23, 2011
Started reading it after I watched the King's Speech....
October 29, 2011
Intriguing. Well written. Enjoyable and insightful.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews