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Abdication: The Rise and Fall of Edward VIII
2016 sees the eightieth anniversary of one of the most dramatic events of the twentieth century – the abdication of King Edward VIII. Mark Hichens, finding a lot of ambiguities and not fully answered questions concerning Edward, has penned a new book in conjunction with this important date.
Mark looks first at the psychological make-up of Edward VIII, pointing out the flaws in his character, noted by his peers – his instability and his immaturity. Mark also looks at the Duchess, a woman of no great beauty nor apparent intellectual gifts, and with two husbands, who managed to entrance the world’s best-loved man.
The book looks at how she brought the Prince to his knees, and also takes a close look at the Abdication crisis (or ‘King’s Affair’ as it was known) – which has caused much speculation about the motives of those involved, not least those of the prime minister, Stanley Baldwin, who took the lead in negotiations. Mark believes that looking back at these events from the perspective of three quarters of a century will help us to a better understanding of that traumatic upheaval.
Mark looks first at the psychological make-up of Edward VIII, pointing out the flaws in his character, noted by his peers – his instability and his immaturity. Mark also looks at the Duchess, a woman of no great beauty nor apparent intellectual gifts, and with two husbands, who managed to entrance the world’s best-loved man.
The book looks at how she brought the Prince to his knees, and also takes a close look at the Abdication crisis (or ‘King’s Affair’ as it was known) – which has caused much speculation about the motives of those involved, not least those of the prime minister, Stanley Baldwin, who took the lead in negotiations. Mark believes that looking back at these events from the perspective of three quarters of a century will help us to a better understanding of that traumatic upheaval.
- GenresHistory
115 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 26, 2024
I picked up this book in a church sale because I was interested to find out whether the abdication of Edward VIII was really because of opposition to Wallis Simpson, or whether this was mainly a convenient excuse for getting rid of him due to the unacceptability of his political sympathies for the Nazis.
The book posed this question but did not really answer it - but I suspect no-one knows the real answer, so that may be asking too much of the book.
The book was informative and a good read, and at only 115 pages I would recommend it to anyone wishing to learn more about the abdication. The grammar is occasionally incorrect, the word "phenomenons" is used, and there are more double negatives than necessary (things like "not uninterested", "could not but feel", etc.) However, these do not detract from the readability of the book and it maintains one's interest throughout.
The book posed this question but did not really answer it - but I suspect no-one knows the real answer, so that may be asking too much of the book.
The book was informative and a good read, and at only 115 pages I would recommend it to anyone wishing to learn more about the abdication. The grammar is occasionally incorrect, the word "phenomenons" is used, and there are more double negatives than necessary (things like "not uninterested", "could not but feel", etc.) However, these do not detract from the readability of the book and it maintains one's interest throughout.
September 7, 2017
Superficial, quick read, but entertaining
January 30, 2019
Interesting
Have read many books on this subject quite an interesting read. Nothing really that I hadn't read before but a balanced view on the abdication.
Have read many books on this subject quite an interesting read. Nothing really that I hadn't read before but a balanced view on the abdication.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews