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Abdication: The Wallis and Edward Story
In 1936, the Britain monarchy was thrown into crisis when King Edward VIII proposed to American socialite Wallis Simpson.
A twice-divorced American without a drop of royal blood in her veins, both the government and the public deemed her unsuitable to be his Queen, and the King was forced to choose between love and the throne. He chose his fiancé, surrendering the crown to his brother, George VI, in a move that 80 years later would pave the way for his great-great-nephew, Prince Harry, to marry Hollywood divorcee Meghan Markle.
Author Brian Inglis seeks to uncover the truth behind the event which shook the monarchy – and the world – to its core. How did the crisis arise? What did Edward’s abdication reveal of the social and moral values of the time? And what did the English think of the debacle? Abdication is a must read for those interested in British history and the Royal Family.
Praise for Brian Inglis:
‘Tenderly respectful of the Duke of Windsor's sensibilities and intelligence’ Kirkus Reviews
‘Inglis is very good’ London Review of Books
Brian Inglis was an Irish journalist, historian and TV presenter. His other books include The Forbidden Game: A Social History of Drugs and The Story of Ireland.
A twice-divorced American without a drop of royal blood in her veins, both the government and the public deemed her unsuitable to be his Queen, and the King was forced to choose between love and the throne. He chose his fiancé, surrendering the crown to his brother, George VI, in a move that 80 years later would pave the way for his great-great-nephew, Prince Harry, to marry Hollywood divorcee Meghan Markle.
Author Brian Inglis seeks to uncover the truth behind the event which shook the monarchy – and the world – to its core. How did the crisis arise? What did Edward’s abdication reveal of the social and moral values of the time? And what did the English think of the debacle? Abdication is a must read for those interested in British history and the Royal Family.
Praise for Brian Inglis:
‘Tenderly respectful of the Duke of Windsor's sensibilities and intelligence’ Kirkus Reviews
‘Inglis is very good’ London Review of Books
Brian Inglis was an Irish journalist, historian and TV presenter. His other books include The Forbidden Game: A Social History of Drugs and The Story of Ireland.
- GenresHistory
535 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1966
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 30, 2023
This is a long and detailed book about the 1936 Abdication Crisis. It's the first book I have read on the crisis and it is also a good introduction to the political scene just before the outbreak of WW2. Ramsay Macdonald and Neville Chamberlain are well known, but in between them was PM Stanley Baldwin, who is one of the "characters" in the book. Some older names (David Lloyd George) and future stars (Winston Churchill) also make appearances.
There are lots of long detours around the main players in the drama and Edward barely gets a mention for long stretches in the early part of the work. The book looks in detail at why the crisis happened, the complete press blackout on the subject, whether it could have been avoided, and what might have been the alternative.
As it happens, once the crisis broke, the transition between monarchs was relatively straightforward and George VI just took up the reigns and Edward's coronation became his instead.
By modern standards, the crisis seems like a storm in a teacup, and I suspect it did soon at the time with the Spanish Civil War and the military actions of Nazi Germany soon overshadowing it. I've looked at the Times editions from December 1936 and one gets the impression that everyone felt that the right conclusion had been reached. History definitely seems to suggest likewise and the Queen would eventually have reigned in the absence of any children from Edward.
Lots has changed since 1936 but there are still plenty of political crises and much the same sort of machinations go on behind the scenes today.
There are lots of long detours around the main players in the drama and Edward barely gets a mention for long stretches in the early part of the work. The book looks in detail at why the crisis happened, the complete press blackout on the subject, whether it could have been avoided, and what might have been the alternative.
As it happens, once the crisis broke, the transition between monarchs was relatively straightforward and George VI just took up the reigns and Edward's coronation became his instead.
By modern standards, the crisis seems like a storm in a teacup, and I suspect it did soon at the time with the Spanish Civil War and the military actions of Nazi Germany soon overshadowing it. I've looked at the Times editions from December 1936 and one gets the impression that everyone felt that the right conclusion had been reached. History definitely seems to suggest likewise and the Queen would eventually have reigned in the absence of any children from Edward.
Lots has changed since 1936 but there are still plenty of political crises and much the same sort of machinations go on behind the scenes today.
October 27, 2018
The preface is intriguing . The book was published in 1966, and the author recounts being an adviser for a 1961 television programme on the Abdication , and though a student in 1936, his memory of the event was quite vague until prompted. So very much subscribes to the view of the Abdication Crisis as a 'nine day wonder' .
The book opens in 1936 and the time span got a bit jumbled at first. But when the author found his pace, presented quite an impartial account.
Particularly strong in breaking down the different interests contained within various political interests : The author thoroughly depicted what he meant when talking of the Establishment, the Church, the newspapers, the BBC , the Left and the Right et al. The author kept a focus on the US and the crises of the time such as the Spanish Civil War and invasion of Abyssinia . Also stresses that there was what we would now call a 'moral panic' concerning the Church's lack of influence on British life at the time which did not help Edward and Wallis.
His conclusion seems to be that the population could not accept Wallis as being both a twice divorced woman ( whose husbands were still alive) and not being of noble birth. The writer also argues that in the long term the reputation of both Stanley Baldwin and the British press was damaged by the fact that the crisis was kept hidden for so long.
Brian Inglis did not subscribe to the 'traitor ' view of Edward when dealing with life after the Abdication. Neither did he accept that Edward or Waliis really had any pro-Fascist sympathies, though stressed that Edward favoured peace with Germany up until the London Blitz began . Fifty years on, some potential readers will find such approach naive at best.
The book opens in 1936 and the time span got a bit jumbled at first. But when the author found his pace, presented quite an impartial account.
Particularly strong in breaking down the different interests contained within various political interests : The author thoroughly depicted what he meant when talking of the Establishment, the Church, the newspapers, the BBC , the Left and the Right et al. The author kept a focus on the US and the crises of the time such as the Spanish Civil War and invasion of Abyssinia . Also stresses that there was what we would now call a 'moral panic' concerning the Church's lack of influence on British life at the time which did not help Edward and Wallis.
His conclusion seems to be that the population could not accept Wallis as being both a twice divorced woman ( whose husbands were still alive) and not being of noble birth. The writer also argues that in the long term the reputation of both Stanley Baldwin and the British press was damaged by the fact that the crisis was kept hidden for so long.
Brian Inglis did not subscribe to the 'traitor ' view of Edward when dealing with life after the Abdication. Neither did he accept that Edward or Waliis really had any pro-Fascist sympathies, though stressed that Edward favoured peace with Germany up until the London Blitz began . Fifty years on, some potential readers will find such approach naive at best.
June 18, 2019
Sensible interpretation
Deft interpretation of the dynamics which led to Edward VIII abdication. history, not historiography. The freshest insights in this work revolve around the unfortunate geopolitical & economic stasis cultivated by a politically orthodox ruling class aka Establishment, and the social provenance. Highly interesting to discover the resilience of soft power, when informally exerted from Institutions founded centuries in the past: Oxford, All Souls, Harrow, etc Milner’s kindergarten
Deft interpretation of the dynamics which led to Edward VIII abdication. history, not historiography. The freshest insights in this work revolve around the unfortunate geopolitical & economic stasis cultivated by a politically orthodox ruling class aka Establishment, and the social provenance. Highly interesting to discover the resilience of soft power, when informally exerted from Institutions founded centuries in the past: Oxford, All Souls, Harrow, etc Milner’s kindergarten
June 12, 2020
Too much about politics. I skipped most of it. It was hard going. I would have liked more of Edward and Wallis. What about their life after abdication. More of Edwards life as Prince of Wales.
December 12, 2025
Gotta keep up with current events
July 26, 2011
Bit too much of a digression about All Souls college
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews