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Monarcho meilužė
Didžiosios Britanijos karališkoji šeima ir skandalas, amžiams perrašęs monarchijos istoriją.
Tikrais faktais paremtas pasakojimas apie išsiskyrusią amerikietę, kuri pavergė princo Edvardo širdį, prieš jam atsisakant sosto dėl Volisos Simpson.
1926 m. vasarą Telma Morgan išteka už vikonto Djuko Ferneso ir įžengia į tviskantį turtų ir privilegijų pasaulį. Amerikiečių diplomato dukteriai naujasis anglų aristokratijos atstovės gyvenimas primena pasaką – ypač, kai vyras supažindina su Velso princu Edvardu.
Sutuoktinio neištikimybė paskatina Telmą stačia galva nerti į meilės romaną su Edvardu. Tačiau laimė trunka neilgai. Kai Telmos dvynė sesuo Glorija Vanderbilt įsivelia į visų plačiai aptarinėjamą skandalą, jųdviejų su princu meilei iškyla grėsmė. Išvykdama į Niujorką palaikyti sesers, Telma paprašo savo naujosios draugės Volisos Simpson paslaugos – palaikyti Edvardui draugiją, kad nesijaustų vienišas. Ji nė nenumano, kuo visa tai baigsis.
Pasakodama šią įspūdingą meilės, ištikimybės ir išdavystės istoriją, Bryn Turnbull skaitytojus nukelia iš triukšmingo Paryžiaus, iš spindinčio viešbučio „Ritz“ ir Prancūzijos Rivjeros į privačius Sent Džeimso rūmų apartamentus ir ramų užmiesčio dvarą.
Tikrais faktais paremtas pasakojimas apie išsiskyrusią amerikietę, kuri pavergė princo Edvardo širdį, prieš jam atsisakant sosto dėl Volisos Simpson.
1926 m. vasarą Telma Morgan išteka už vikonto Djuko Ferneso ir įžengia į tviskantį turtų ir privilegijų pasaulį. Amerikiečių diplomato dukteriai naujasis anglų aristokratijos atstovės gyvenimas primena pasaką – ypač, kai vyras supažindina su Velso princu Edvardu.
Sutuoktinio neištikimybė paskatina Telmą stačia galva nerti į meilės romaną su Edvardu. Tačiau laimė trunka neilgai. Kai Telmos dvynė sesuo Glorija Vanderbilt įsivelia į visų plačiai aptarinėjamą skandalą, jųdviejų su princu meilei iškyla grėsmė. Išvykdama į Niujorką palaikyti sesers, Telma paprašo savo naujosios draugės Volisos Simpson paslaugos – palaikyti Edvardui draugiją, kad nesijaustų vienišas. Ji nė nenumano, kuo visa tai baigsis.
Pasakodama šią įspūdingą meilės, ištikimybės ir išdavystės istoriją, Bryn Turnbull skaitytojus nukelia iš triukšmingo Paryžiaus, iš spindinčio viešbučio „Ritz“ ir Prancūzijos Rivjeros į privačius Sent Džeimso rūmų apartamentus ir ramų užmiesčio dvarą.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2020
900 people are currently reading
14618 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 992 reviews
August 16, 2020
4.5 rounded up to 5 Stars
I've read scores of books about The Windsors over the decades, and even some focusing on Wallis Simpson and Edward Windsor- later known as the banished royal married couple the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Edward is famously known for the speech in which he gave up the throne of England to marry the woman he loved, American divorcee Wallis Simpson. His younger brother "Bertie" and wife Elizabeth then became King and Queen of England. They had two young daughters, the eldest being Elizabeth (the current Queen Elizabeth II) and the youngest, Margaret. They were everything Edward wasn't. They were happily married with two children and devoid of any scandal. Most importantly, Bertie (later known as King George VI) and his wife had a strong sense of duty to their country. Edward (known as "David" to his close friends and lovers) often gave off signals that he did not want the burden and disruption to his personal life in order to be King of England. He had a penchant for enduring romantic relationships with married women. Thelma Furness was the married woman of the moment he clung to when he first met Wallis and Ernest Simpson. She famously asked Wallis to "watch over David" while she travelled to New York for the famous "Little Gloria" Vanderbilt custody trial. Although Thelma was Lady Furness, she was also the twin sister of Gloria Vanderbilt. Not the lady who made the famous designer jeans in the seventies; that was her daughter "Little Gloria". Gloria was married to Reggie Vanderbilt and they had a daughter which they named Gloria. However, Reggie met an early death due to alcoholism, leaving behind a mountain of debts. The only secure financial holding was a multimillion inheritance specifically for his daughter "Little Gloria". Gloria Vanderbilt the mother had to auction off everything Reggie had to pay off his debts, and lived off the inheritance as Little Gloria's mother. She had to be careful with the money which was closely monitored and accounted for by surrogates in NYC. However, in a cruel twist of fate Gloria's own mother didn't trust her own daughter to properly raise Little Gloria, and between her and Reggie's sister Gertrude, the Vanderbilt family kept the child out of her reach. This reminded me somewhat of when Princess Diana's parents had divorced when Diane was a small child, and her maternal grandmother actually sided with the father, Earl Spencer, who got legal custody of the children. Ultimately, this whole Vanderbilt matter went to trial in NYC and received a lot of attention in newspapers and with crowds surrounding the court.
But when Reggie was still alive and Gloria was still enjoying an opulent married life, she did a kind turn to her twin sister Thelma who was divorced. Thelma had married quickly for love, only to discover she had made a horrible mistake. Now a divorcee, she relied on her sister Gloria and brother-in-law Reggie for financial support. When Lord Furness from England was coming to a dinner party, Gloria sat Thelma next to him in the hopes they would hit it off. Lord Furness was a widower with two children and was immensely rich, with many lavish properties in England. Thelma was lukewarm to the idea at first, but soon realized her luck and that it was possible to learn to love someone...especially if they were that rich. They soon married, and now her sister Gloria did not have to support her anymore. Now Thelma was titled Lady Furness, and she and her husband mingled in royal circles. This soon brought her in contact with the Prince of Wales, Edward Windsor aka "David". He had just transitioned from a romantic relationship with married socialite Freda Dudley Ward into an enduring friendship. He was rife for a new romantic entanglement and set his sights on Thelma. Thelma and husband Duke were going through a rough patch following the birth of their son Tony. She practically pushed Duke into an affair, feeling less desirable about her lingering baby weight. Now it was Thelma's turn to be unfaithful, but in these circles you didn't deny the prerogative of the Prince of Wales. In a way, it was an act of deference and a compliment. In truth, Thelma felt that even if David wasn't the Prince of Wales, she still loved him more than her own husband.
When Wallis Simpson and husband Ernest moved from the United States to England, she tried her best to elevate her social status. She wound up befriending Thelma and through that friendship was welcomed into the Prince of Wales' circle. When Wallis was invited to be presented in a ceremony with many others to the Royal Family, she didn't even have the proper clothing for the event. I loved reading about how Thelma and sister Gloria helped cobble together the needed items, a white satin dress, train, tiara and ostrich feathers. Wallis added her own unique sense of style with a large aquamarine cross on a long necklace. This prompted me to search the internet for a picture of Wallis in this outfit, and I was thrilled to find several.
This author obviously painstakingly researched her subject. She attended St. Andrew's College in Scotland (the same one where WIlliam and Kate met). She was inspired to write about Thelma after seeing a movie that Madonna (of all people) directed called "W.E." about the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. The author realized that no one ever fleshed out the full story about Thelma, who had practically pushed Wallis and Edward together by asking her to watch out for him. I find myself thinking about these real life characters often following the read of this book. My only gripe about this voluminous book of over 400 pages is that I found the topic of the courtroom drama tiresome after awhile. Perhaps it could have been edited down a bit more, but this was a very good book overall.
Thank you to HARLEQUIN Trade Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
I've read scores of books about The Windsors over the decades, and even some focusing on Wallis Simpson and Edward Windsor- later known as the banished royal married couple the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Edward is famously known for the speech in which he gave up the throne of England to marry the woman he loved, American divorcee Wallis Simpson. His younger brother "Bertie" and wife Elizabeth then became King and Queen of England. They had two young daughters, the eldest being Elizabeth (the current Queen Elizabeth II) and the youngest, Margaret. They were everything Edward wasn't. They were happily married with two children and devoid of any scandal. Most importantly, Bertie (later known as King George VI) and his wife had a strong sense of duty to their country. Edward (known as "David" to his close friends and lovers) often gave off signals that he did not want the burden and disruption to his personal life in order to be King of England. He had a penchant for enduring romantic relationships with married women. Thelma Furness was the married woman of the moment he clung to when he first met Wallis and Ernest Simpson. She famously asked Wallis to "watch over David" while she travelled to New York for the famous "Little Gloria" Vanderbilt custody trial. Although Thelma was Lady Furness, she was also the twin sister of Gloria Vanderbilt. Not the lady who made the famous designer jeans in the seventies; that was her daughter "Little Gloria". Gloria was married to Reggie Vanderbilt and they had a daughter which they named Gloria. However, Reggie met an early death due to alcoholism, leaving behind a mountain of debts. The only secure financial holding was a multimillion inheritance specifically for his daughter "Little Gloria". Gloria Vanderbilt the mother had to auction off everything Reggie had to pay off his debts, and lived off the inheritance as Little Gloria's mother. She had to be careful with the money which was closely monitored and accounted for by surrogates in NYC. However, in a cruel twist of fate Gloria's own mother didn't trust her own daughter to properly raise Little Gloria, and between her and Reggie's sister Gertrude, the Vanderbilt family kept the child out of her reach. This reminded me somewhat of when Princess Diana's parents had divorced when Diane was a small child, and her maternal grandmother actually sided with the father, Earl Spencer, who got legal custody of the children. Ultimately, this whole Vanderbilt matter went to trial in NYC and received a lot of attention in newspapers and with crowds surrounding the court.
But when Reggie was still alive and Gloria was still enjoying an opulent married life, she did a kind turn to her twin sister Thelma who was divorced. Thelma had married quickly for love, only to discover she had made a horrible mistake. Now a divorcee, she relied on her sister Gloria and brother-in-law Reggie for financial support. When Lord Furness from England was coming to a dinner party, Gloria sat Thelma next to him in the hopes they would hit it off. Lord Furness was a widower with two children and was immensely rich, with many lavish properties in England. Thelma was lukewarm to the idea at first, but soon realized her luck and that it was possible to learn to love someone...especially if they were that rich. They soon married, and now her sister Gloria did not have to support her anymore. Now Thelma was titled Lady Furness, and she and her husband mingled in royal circles. This soon brought her in contact with the Prince of Wales, Edward Windsor aka "David". He had just transitioned from a romantic relationship with married socialite Freda Dudley Ward into an enduring friendship. He was rife for a new romantic entanglement and set his sights on Thelma. Thelma and husband Duke were going through a rough patch following the birth of their son Tony. She practically pushed Duke into an affair, feeling less desirable about her lingering baby weight. Now it was Thelma's turn to be unfaithful, but in these circles you didn't deny the prerogative of the Prince of Wales. In a way, it was an act of deference and a compliment. In truth, Thelma felt that even if David wasn't the Prince of Wales, she still loved him more than her own husband.
When Wallis Simpson and husband Ernest moved from the United States to England, she tried her best to elevate her social status. She wound up befriending Thelma and through that friendship was welcomed into the Prince of Wales' circle. When Wallis was invited to be presented in a ceremony with many others to the Royal Family, she didn't even have the proper clothing for the event. I loved reading about how Thelma and sister Gloria helped cobble together the needed items, a white satin dress, train, tiara and ostrich feathers. Wallis added her own unique sense of style with a large aquamarine cross on a long necklace. This prompted me to search the internet for a picture of Wallis in this outfit, and I was thrilled to find several.
This author obviously painstakingly researched her subject. She attended St. Andrew's College in Scotland (the same one where WIlliam and Kate met). She was inspired to write about Thelma after seeing a movie that Madonna (of all people) directed called "W.E." about the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. The author realized that no one ever fleshed out the full story about Thelma, who had practically pushed Wallis and Edward together by asking her to watch out for him. I find myself thinking about these real life characters often following the read of this book. My only gripe about this voluminous book of over 400 pages is that I found the topic of the courtroom drama tiresome after awhile. Perhaps it could have been edited down a bit more, but this was a very good book overall.
Thank you to HARLEQUIN Trade Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
August 8, 2024
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. that title grabbed me! Although I've read a lot about King Edward VIII abdicating his throne for American divorcée, Wallis Simpson, just who was his mistress before this (in)famous love affair? and,
2. August 2024 is my self-appointed "Biographical Fiction" Month.
Praises:
1. I was truly gobsmacked by author Bryn Turnbull's attention to detail! Every setting, every action, was described so clearly that I felt like I was watching a movie;
2. the subtitle promises scandals, and Turnbull delivers! Although Wallis is mentioned, the real attention goes to American socialite, Lady Thelma Morgan Furness, and of this I am glad. Turnbull's research into Thelma's life would make your head spin, yet she paints the woman in a sympathetic light. Turnbull focuses on all the scandals surrounding Thelma, including her marriage to Lord Marmaduke "Duke" Furness, her affair with the Prince of Wales, and of her twin sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt's infamous custody battle for her daughter, little Gloria;
3. Turnbull successfully shows how early 20th-century aristocrats were more concerned about their adult(erous) relationships rather than on their children, until push came to shove;
4. I appreciated that sexual scenes were tastefully written. Less is more, in my opinion;
5. Turnbull writes a very informative Author's Note, of which I was quite pleased that it was included in this audiobook; and,
6. narrator Mary Jane Wells was the perfect reader for this story. She kept me enthralled!
Niggles: None!
Overall Thoughts:
I learned a lot about Lady Thelma Furness, especially in regards to her turbulent life. Turnbull's writing style kept me physically and emotionally connected throughout the story!
Highly recommend for historical and/or biographical fiction fans!
1. that title grabbed me! Although I've read a lot about King Edward VIII abdicating his throne for American divorcée, Wallis Simpson, just who was his mistress before this (in)famous love affair? and,
2. August 2024 is my self-appointed "Biographical Fiction" Month.
Praises:
1. I was truly gobsmacked by author Bryn Turnbull's attention to detail! Every setting, every action, was described so clearly that I felt like I was watching a movie;
2. the subtitle promises scandals, and Turnbull delivers! Although Wallis is mentioned, the real attention goes to American socialite, Lady Thelma Morgan Furness, and of this I am glad. Turnbull's research into Thelma's life would make your head spin, yet she paints the woman in a sympathetic light. Turnbull focuses on all the scandals surrounding Thelma, including her marriage to Lord Marmaduke "Duke" Furness, her affair with the Prince of Wales, and of her twin sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt's infamous custody battle for her daughter, little Gloria;
3. Turnbull successfully shows how early 20th-century aristocrats were more concerned about their adult(erous) relationships rather than on their children, until push came to shove;
4. I appreciated that sexual scenes were tastefully written. Less is more, in my opinion;
5. Turnbull writes a very informative Author's Note, of which I was quite pleased that it was included in this audiobook; and,
6. narrator Mary Jane Wells was the perfect reader for this story. She kept me enthralled!
Niggles: None!
Overall Thoughts:
I learned a lot about Lady Thelma Furness, especially in regards to her turbulent life. Turnbull's writing style kept me physically and emotionally connected throughout the story!
Highly recommend for historical and/or biographical fiction fans!
May 22, 2020
I knew a little bit about the Vanderbilt family prior to reading this historical fiction novel but really didn't know much about Thelma Furness, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt's twin sister. This book provided a look at Thelma's romantic life as well as the famous custody trial involving Thelma's niece in which Gloria battled the Vanderbilt family in court. Lots of scandal which made for a juicy read.
So Thelma was the woman before Wallis, hence the title. Despite being married, Thelma had an affair with Edward, Prince of Wales. Edward of course would go on to become King of England but later abdicated the throne so he could marry Wallis Simpson. Obviously this was a huge deal back when it happened nearly a century ago. The author chose to tell Thelma's story with alternating timelines as it flips back and forth between her romantic life and later on during the custody case in New York. The vast majority of the story takes place in the 1920s and 1930s.
Historical fiction novels can vary in how much is based on fact and what is just the product of the author's imagination. While the author does admit to changing a few of the dates in the book, it was nothing that hindered the overall story. For me this book captured the essence of what historical fiction is all about in that it felt realistic and the author incorporated as many published facts about the people and events as much as possible.
So much has already been written about Edward and Wallis so it was nice to see the focus on somebody else who he was involved with prior to his marriage. The custody trial as well as her relationship with Edward were important parts of Thelma's life and it was interesting to see how they intersected. I will say my initial opinion of Thelma changed by the time I finished the book, but one thing is for certain, it was fascinating getting a glimpse inside of her life.
I think this book will appeal to a wide variety of readers. If you love reading about the royal family, you will want to pick this one up. If you enjoy reading about wealthy people with incredibly messy lives, this is a good read for that as well. And for what it is worth, I found this book to be a pleasant distraction from all of the chaos going on in the world at this moment. When you can find a book that allows you to escape for awhile and you aren't concentrating on your real life problems, that's always a good thing.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
So Thelma was the woman before Wallis, hence the title. Despite being married, Thelma had an affair with Edward, Prince of Wales. Edward of course would go on to become King of England but later abdicated the throne so he could marry Wallis Simpson. Obviously this was a huge deal back when it happened nearly a century ago. The author chose to tell Thelma's story with alternating timelines as it flips back and forth between her romantic life and later on during the custody case in New York. The vast majority of the story takes place in the 1920s and 1930s.
Historical fiction novels can vary in how much is based on fact and what is just the product of the author's imagination. While the author does admit to changing a few of the dates in the book, it was nothing that hindered the overall story. For me this book captured the essence of what historical fiction is all about in that it felt realistic and the author incorporated as many published facts about the people and events as much as possible.
So much has already been written about Edward and Wallis so it was nice to see the focus on somebody else who he was involved with prior to his marriage. The custody trial as well as her relationship with Edward were important parts of Thelma's life and it was interesting to see how they intersected. I will say my initial opinion of Thelma changed by the time I finished the book, but one thing is for certain, it was fascinating getting a glimpse inside of her life.
I think this book will appeal to a wide variety of readers. If you love reading about the royal family, you will want to pick this one up. If you enjoy reading about wealthy people with incredibly messy lives, this is a good read for that as well. And for what it is worth, I found this book to be a pleasant distraction from all of the chaos going on in the world at this moment. When you can find a book that allows you to escape for awhile and you aren't concentrating on your real life problems, that's always a good thing.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2024
I was so intrigued by the subject matter and characters, but unfortunately this was just very bland. It’s based on many fascinating people and events, but somehow nobody jumps off the page and seems alive.
There’s nothing terribly wrong with this; it’s just immediately forgettable.
There’s nothing terribly wrong with this; it’s just immediately forgettable.
July 13, 2020
This was one of my most highly anticipated July reads and I must say it didn't disappoint. Bryn Turnbull transports readers back to the story of Thelma Morgan Furness, an American socialite that captures the eye of Edward, Prince of Wales. As well, we are taken to the events surrounding the custody battle between Thelma's sister Gloria Vanderbilt and their mother. I knew nothing about Thelma Morgan but after reading this book, I must declare that she is one of those interesting historical persons that I won't soon forget. It was so intriguing to see through her fictionalized story what Edward, Prince of Wales was like. More to the point, that even if it shocked the world and members of his family, perhaps it wasn't that shocking that a man looking for modernism would abdicate from the throne.
Highly recommended if you are a fan of the antics of the House of Windsor!
Expected Publication 21/07/20
Goodreads review 13/07/20
Highly recommended if you are a fan of the antics of the House of Windsor!
Expected Publication 21/07/20
Goodreads review 13/07/20
May 1, 2020
1934, Thelma Morgan sails from England to NY to support her twin sister Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt in her divorce process.
The story goes back in time to Paris 1925 and reveals how Thelma meets Lord Furness, her second husband. And while married to him, at a ball party she meets the Prince of Wales. This story progresses and alternates with 1934 story.
The story progresses slowly. There are outings, dinners, conversations, but not much of essence to make it feel that the story is moving forward. It is all about family affairs. There is no historical background of any kind.
If you enjoy romances, then it might be a book for you and I recommend looking at other reviews.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story goes back in time to Paris 1925 and reveals how Thelma meets Lord Furness, her second husband. And while married to him, at a ball party she meets the Prince of Wales. This story progresses and alternates with 1934 story.
The story progresses slowly. There are outings, dinners, conversations, but not much of essence to make it feel that the story is moving forward. It is all about family affairs. There is no historical background of any kind.
If you enjoy romances, then it might be a book for you and I recommend looking at other reviews.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE WOMAN BEFORE WALLIS: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts and Royal Scandal by Bryn Turnbull is a historical fiction book that I have been waiting anxiously to read and it did not disappoint. This is the story of the American divorcee who captured Prince Edward’s heart before Wallis Simpson.
Thelma Morgan is divorced and has no prospects until her identical twin sister Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt and her husband, Reggie introduce her to Viscount Duke Furness. After a whirlwind romance, she is married, becomes the Viscountess Furness and is immersed into the decadent and wealthy life of the British aristocracy.
When Thelma learns Duke is having an affair, she is devastated, but her friends counsel her to live her own life and ignore it. At a party she is introduced to Edward, Prince of Wales. She finds him charming and soon the two are embroiled in a love affair.
Gloria Vanderbilt is fighting a terrible custody battle against her own mother and Gertrude Vanderbuilt in New York. The scandal sheets are posting terrible stories, so Thelma decides she must sail to American to stand by her sister and niece. As Thelma leaves England, she asks her trusted friend to watch over Edward. Wallis Simpson.
I love all the characters in this story. I believe that the author did a wonderful job of bringing them all to life; foibles and all. It is always interesting to read about the rich and famous and realize the social, political and/or personal pressures they live with and their money does not really make them happy. Even though I knew what would happen with both Gloria and Thelma, and this is not a history book, but historical fiction, I could not put the book down. It pulled me into the intrigue and scandal of their lives.
This is perfect for all the Anglophiles out there that can never get enough!
THE WOMAN BEFORE WALLIS: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts and Royal Scandal by Bryn Turnbull is a historical fiction book that I have been waiting anxiously to read and it did not disappoint. This is the story of the American divorcee who captured Prince Edward’s heart before Wallis Simpson.
Thelma Morgan is divorced and has no prospects until her identical twin sister Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt and her husband, Reggie introduce her to Viscount Duke Furness. After a whirlwind romance, she is married, becomes the Viscountess Furness and is immersed into the decadent and wealthy life of the British aristocracy.
When Thelma learns Duke is having an affair, she is devastated, but her friends counsel her to live her own life and ignore it. At a party she is introduced to Edward, Prince of Wales. She finds him charming and soon the two are embroiled in a love affair.
Gloria Vanderbilt is fighting a terrible custody battle against her own mother and Gertrude Vanderbuilt in New York. The scandal sheets are posting terrible stories, so Thelma decides she must sail to American to stand by her sister and niece. As Thelma leaves England, she asks her trusted friend to watch over Edward. Wallis Simpson.
I love all the characters in this story. I believe that the author did a wonderful job of bringing them all to life; foibles and all. It is always interesting to read about the rich and famous and realize the social, political and/or personal pressures they live with and their money does not really make them happy. Even though I knew what would happen with both Gloria and Thelma, and this is not a history book, but historical fiction, I could not put the book down. It pulled me into the intrigue and scandal of their lives.
This is perfect for all the Anglophiles out there that can never get enough!
Read
March 18, 20224.5/5
Nedurna, oi nedurna knyga. Mėgstat The Crown? Imkit. Nesitikit, kad monarchija – tik glamūras ir tiaros, suknelės ir perlai? Imkit. Patinka knygos, kuriose veikėjų nesinori purtyti iš pykčio, o jų žmogiškumas ir gyvenimiška patirtis, net jei ne romantiškai pasisukanti, atrodo logiška ir suprantama, tik nebūtinai karališkai didinga? Imkit. Gavau iš romano kur kas daugiau, nei tikėjausi: teisinės sistemos JAV pjūvį, visą Ameriką įtraukusią skandalingą bylą, monarchijos pančių skausmą ir lūkesčių, prasilenkiančių su realybe nejaukų nusodinimą. Maniau, kad kalbėsim apie šilkus ir blizgučius, o B.Turnbull puolė iš pasalų: veiksmą vyniodama lėtai, o gerai pažįstamą sosto atsisakymo istoriją pateikdama per motinystės, LGBTQ+ istorijos, teisinių procesų, moters padėties visuomenėje ir Piterio Peno kompleksų kamuojamų vyrų kaleidoskopą.
Noriu pabrėžti, kad istorija jokiu būdu nesivysto žaibiškai – bet jei mėgstate tylias intrigas, o ypač jei patinka lėti, BBC stiliaus serialai, kupini nutylėjimų ir nebylios elegancijos – šis perlas gali ypač nudžiuginti. Durnių čia nėra – net tie, kurie elgiasi absurdiškai, žmogiškoje plotmėje yra suprantami ir užjaučiami. Beskaitant kamuoja suvokimas, kad viskas susiję glaudžiai ir smulkmeniškai, o ir visos šeimos t i k r a i yra nelaimingos savaip. Įtariu, kad knyga patiks ir tiems, kurie didelio susižavėjimo monarchijai nejaučia – čia tiesiog įdomi, nekasdienė ir puikiai papasakota istorija, kupina ryškių veikėjų ir žavinti stebėtinai daugialypiu siužetu, neabsiribojančiu vien karališkais reikalais, kurios nei vienas aspektas man nepasirodė suskubėtas. Mano priekaištas – knyga čiut per ilga, bet aš dažnai taip sakau. Apart to – tikrai vertas dėmesio istorinis kūrinys – ne Mantell ar Sabaliauskaitė, bet ir ne pseudo-istorinė tralialiuška.
Nedurna, oi nedurna knyga. Mėgstat The Crown? Imkit. Nesitikit, kad monarchija – tik glamūras ir tiaros, suknelės ir perlai? Imkit. Patinka knygos, kuriose veikėjų nesinori purtyti iš pykčio, o jų žmogiškumas ir gyvenimiška patirtis, net jei ne romantiškai pasisukanti, atrodo logiška ir suprantama, tik nebūtinai karališkai didinga? Imkit. Gavau iš romano kur kas daugiau, nei tikėjausi: teisinės sistemos JAV pjūvį, visą Ameriką įtraukusią skandalingą bylą, monarchijos pančių skausmą ir lūkesčių, prasilenkiančių su realybe nejaukų nusodinimą. Maniau, kad kalbėsim apie šilkus ir blizgučius, o B.Turnbull puolė iš pasalų: veiksmą vyniodama lėtai, o gerai pažįstamą sosto atsisakymo istoriją pateikdama per motinystės, LGBTQ+ istorijos, teisinių procesų, moters padėties visuomenėje ir Piterio Peno kompleksų kamuojamų vyrų kaleidoskopą.
Noriu pabrėžti, kad istorija jokiu būdu nesivysto žaibiškai – bet jei mėgstate tylias intrigas, o ypač jei patinka lėti, BBC stiliaus serialai, kupini nutylėjimų ir nebylios elegancijos – šis perlas gali ypač nudžiuginti. Durnių čia nėra – net tie, kurie elgiasi absurdiškai, žmogiškoje plotmėje yra suprantami ir užjaučiami. Beskaitant kamuoja suvokimas, kad viskas susiję glaudžiai ir smulkmeniškai, o ir visos šeimos t i k r a i yra nelaimingos savaip. Įtariu, kad knyga patiks ir tiems, kurie didelio susižavėjimo monarchijai nejaučia – čia tiesiog įdomi, nekasdienė ir puikiai papasakota istorija, kupina ryškių veikėjų ir žavinti stebėtinai daugialypiu siužetu, neabsiribojančiu vien karališkais reikalais, kurios nei vienas aspektas man nepasirodė suskubėtas. Mano priekaištas – knyga čiut per ilga, bet aš dažnai taip sakau. Apart to – tikrai vertas dėmesio istorinis kūrinys – ne Mantell ar Sabaliauskaitė, bet ir ne pseudo-istorinė tralialiuška.
July 13, 2020
Kudos to Bryn Turnbull for writing such an engaging novel about a character I did not know much about. There were some very interesting twists and turns in the life of Thelma (Lady Burness) and it was fascinating to watch Wallis growing closer and closer to the Prince of Wales. Not only was Thelma a society icon in Great Britain, she was also twin sister to the original Gloria Vanderbilt. Thus, a sizable chunk of the narrative covers the epic court battle for custody of little Gloria. Being a twin myself (although not identical) I found it very compelling to watch the two sisters maintain their relationship and how they supported each other emotionally and financially. Hobnobbing with the rich and famous is enlightening. The chickens come home to roost despite the money and power they wield. This will make a fabulous book group pick. The edition I read includes book group questions and an interview with the author.
Thank you to Harlequin Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Harlequin Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2020
In 1926, American socialite Thelma Morgan marries widower the Duke of Furness and Thelma becomes a step mother to his two older children Dickie and Averill. For Thelma marrying into money is her best option, she’s been married before and she’s broke!
The marriage starts off well, being financially comfortable makes a huge difference to Thelma’s life and then things start to change after a few months due to her insecurities and her husbands behavior. Most English upper class marriages are for convenience only, not for love and affairs are very common. When Thelma meets Edward the Prince of Wales or David as she calls him, she starts a romantic relationship with him, everyone knows about their love affair and including her husband.
Thelma is a twin, her sister Gloria is married to the very rich Reggie Vanderbilt and they have a daughter called Gloria. The book has a dual timeline it goes between the 1920’s and the 1930’s. The story is based around Thelma and Gloria’s scandalous behavior and the eventual consequences.
In 1934, Gloria is now a widow, fighting to keep custody of her daughter little Gloria and she needs her sisters support. The lawyers are ruthless, they use any negative information they can find and it gets rather nasty. The tabloids are also involved; Gloria is accused of being an unfit mother, a negligent parent and one who has been having a relationship with a woman?
Thelma travels to New York to help her sister; she leaves England and Edward who’s just met a mutual trusted friend Wallis Simpson. I don’t think Thelma understood how much her relationship with Edward could damage her sister’s custody case against Gertrude Vanderbilt and she makes the ultimate sacrifice to try and save her sisters reputation.
The Woman Before Wallis is based on some facts and it also looks at societies expectations regarding women’s roles at the time, what was acceptable behavior and what was not. Women were expected to marry, have babies, not complain and put up with the decisions their husbands made. In the case of Royalty they even higher expectations and standards; Edward could have a few flings and sew his wild oats. But, he could never marry a divorced woman and be the King of England; both Thelma and Wallis had been married before and his relationships with both women could be used to create an interesting story prior to his famous abdication. Bryn Turnbull did this well, thanks to Mira publishing and I gave the book five stars. I have shared my review on Goodreads, Twitter, Australian Amazon, Kobo, Edelweiss and my blog. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
The marriage starts off well, being financially comfortable makes a huge difference to Thelma’s life and then things start to change after a few months due to her insecurities and her husbands behavior. Most English upper class marriages are for convenience only, not for love and affairs are very common. When Thelma meets Edward the Prince of Wales or David as she calls him, she starts a romantic relationship with him, everyone knows about their love affair and including her husband.
Thelma is a twin, her sister Gloria is married to the very rich Reggie Vanderbilt and they have a daughter called Gloria. The book has a dual timeline it goes between the 1920’s and the 1930’s. The story is based around Thelma and Gloria’s scandalous behavior and the eventual consequences.
In 1934, Gloria is now a widow, fighting to keep custody of her daughter little Gloria and she needs her sisters support. The lawyers are ruthless, they use any negative information they can find and it gets rather nasty. The tabloids are also involved; Gloria is accused of being an unfit mother, a negligent parent and one who has been having a relationship with a woman?
Thelma travels to New York to help her sister; she leaves England and Edward who’s just met a mutual trusted friend Wallis Simpson. I don’t think Thelma understood how much her relationship with Edward could damage her sister’s custody case against Gertrude Vanderbilt and she makes the ultimate sacrifice to try and save her sisters reputation.
The Woman Before Wallis is based on some facts and it also looks at societies expectations regarding women’s roles at the time, what was acceptable behavior and what was not. Women were expected to marry, have babies, not complain and put up with the decisions their husbands made. In the case of Royalty they even higher expectations and standards; Edward could have a few flings and sew his wild oats. But, he could never marry a divorced woman and be the King of England; both Thelma and Wallis had been married before and his relationships with both women could be used to create an interesting story prior to his famous abdication. Bryn Turnbull did this well, thanks to Mira publishing and I gave the book five stars. I have shared my review on Goodreads, Twitter, Australian Amazon, Kobo, Edelweiss and my blog. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
May 6, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
Between "The Crown" and "The King's Speech" and "The Windsors", there's been a lot lately about Edward's abdication. I'm fascinated by all this, so was more than ready to read about Edward's previous lady.
However, this book was the kind that tries to impart a lot of information by name-dropping and explanations to the point that I was confused by who was who and who did what when. Even with all the info-dumps, the characters didn't come to life or act in ways that made me invest in them. I noped out pretty quickly after it became evident that while the author knew a lot, she didn't know how to impart that information in an organic or entertaining manner.
Between "The Crown" and "The King's Speech" and "The Windsors", there's been a lot lately about Edward's abdication. I'm fascinated by all this, so was more than ready to read about Edward's previous lady.
However, this book was the kind that tries to impart a lot of information by name-dropping and explanations to the point that I was confused by who was who and who did what when. Even with all the info-dumps, the characters didn't come to life or act in ways that made me invest in them. I noped out pretty quickly after it became evident that while the author knew a lot, she didn't know how to impart that information in an organic or entertaining manner.
July 17, 2020
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.
A very interesting and well done debut by this author. I knew some of the story, about David and Wallis, but had no idea there was a woman before her that David was involved in. I think what also brings this story together was the author's notes at the end of the novel. When I was done reading the story, I felt it was almost incomplete until I continued reading the notes and found out what happened to the major characters that were involved. I would highly recommend this novel.
A very interesting and well done debut by this author. I knew some of the story, about David and Wallis, but had no idea there was a woman before her that David was involved in. I think what also brings this story together was the author's notes at the end of the novel. When I was done reading the story, I felt it was almost incomplete until I continued reading the notes and found out what happened to the major characters that were involved. I would highly recommend this novel.
May 6, 2022
Skandalingi princo Edvardo ir Volisos Simpson santykiai nuaidėjo per visą pasaulį – kažin ar kas nors bent viena ausimi nėra girdėjęs apie šią porą ir jų modernų požiūrį į monarchiją. Tačiau Bryn Turnbull mums pasakoja mažiau žinomą istoriją – ji į prožektorių šviesą iškelia seseris Telmą ir Gloriją ir atskleidžia ne ką mažiau apkalbų ir skandalų apipintą pasakojimą bei supažindina su moterimis, kurių gyvenimai šalia spindinčios monarchijos liko kiek pamiršti.
Autorė puikiai suderina pagaulų stilių, to meto glamūrą ir rimtas socialines problemas, su kuriomis teko susidurti abiems seserims. Viena iš jų vis kovojo dėl meilės, o kita – dėl savo šeimos, o kartu jos niekada toli nesitraukė viena nuo kitos. Nėra čia pamokslavimo ar bandymo ką nors pateisinti – autorė neatrodo kritiška net Edvardui ar Volisai, nors, manau, daug kas galėtų žengti tuo keliu. Nenueinama ir į visišką paskalų lygmenį, nes remiamasi tikrais įvykiais, šalia, aišku, duodant nemažai valios ir vaizduotei. Puikiai atkurtas laikotarpis, kuris tampa itin apčiuopiamas detalėse – nuo papuošalų iki skrybelaičių, nuo moterims tenkančios kritikos, kurios negauna vyrai, iki suvokimo, kad be sutuoktinio pinigų jos kartais tampa visiškai niekuo.
Knyga, prilygstanti tikrai kokybiškam filmui/serialui apie to meto aukštuomenės gyvenimą, tačiau kapsanti kiek giliau nei kartais tokiems romanams įprasta. Tuo Bryn Turnbull mane ir nustebino – nesitikėjau čia rasti tiek socialinės kritikos ir detalių apie vieną ryškiausių teismo bylų dėl vaiko globos to meto istorijoje, apie kurią, rodos, dabar nelabai kas ir kalba. Džiaugiuosi, kad autorė suteikė balsą šioms dviem nepakartojamoms moterims ir tikiuosi, kad jų istorijas atrasit ir jūs.
Autorė puikiai suderina pagaulų stilių, to meto glamūrą ir rimtas socialines problemas, su kuriomis teko susidurti abiems seserims. Viena iš jų vis kovojo dėl meilės, o kita – dėl savo šeimos, o kartu jos niekada toli nesitraukė viena nuo kitos. Nėra čia pamokslavimo ar bandymo ką nors pateisinti – autorė neatrodo kritiška net Edvardui ar Volisai, nors, manau, daug kas galėtų žengti tuo keliu. Nenueinama ir į visišką paskalų lygmenį, nes remiamasi tikrais įvykiais, šalia, aišku, duodant nemažai valios ir vaizduotei. Puikiai atkurtas laikotarpis, kuris tampa itin apčiuopiamas detalėse – nuo papuošalų iki skrybelaičių, nuo moterims tenkančios kritikos, kurios negauna vyrai, iki suvokimo, kad be sutuoktinio pinigų jos kartais tampa visiškai niekuo.
Knyga, prilygstanti tikrai kokybiškam filmui/serialui apie to meto aukštuomenės gyvenimą, tačiau kapsanti kiek giliau nei kartais tokiems romanams įprasta. Tuo Bryn Turnbull mane ir nustebino – nesitikėjau čia rasti tiek socialinės kritikos ir detalių apie vieną ryškiausių teismo bylų dėl vaiko globos to meto istorijoje, apie kurią, rodos, dabar nelabai kas ir kalba. Džiaugiuosi, kad autorė suteikė balsą šioms dviem nepakartojamoms moterims ir tikiuosi, kad jų istorijas atrasit ir jūs.
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December 20, 2020I was absolutely lost in this book. Thelma Morgan was a fascinating character and Bryn Turnbull captures the fashions, the way of life, and the scandals of this time perfectly, bringing to life an enthralling piece of history.
August 25, 2024
The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull is a historical fiction novel that takes place in the 1920/30s that explores into the life of Thelma Morgan, who was the mistress of Edward, Prince of Wales, before his relationship with Wallis Simpson. The novel is detailed well into a world of wealth, glamor and privilege, along with the societal rules in the British Aristocracy.
Thelma is portrayed as a woman with her own desires, struggles, and ambitions. Her twin sister is Gloria Vanderbilt who also a prominent figure in Thelma’s life.
Turnbill researched the novel in the Historical Fiction values and detail of the times. She does a thorough job recreating the atmosphere of the era. I was pulled into Thelma's emotional journey as she navigates her affair with Edward, her duties as a wife and mother, and the eventual heartbreak of being replaced by Wallis Simpson.
What I liked the most is the novel was not just another romance. It portrays women of the times. Dependence on men and meeting the expectations of society. This was a lovely novel about a little known lady hidden in history as a prominent figures.
Thelma is portrayed as a woman with her own desires, struggles, and ambitions. Her twin sister is Gloria Vanderbilt who also a prominent figure in Thelma’s life.
Turnbill researched the novel in the Historical Fiction values and detail of the times. She does a thorough job recreating the atmosphere of the era. I was pulled into Thelma's emotional journey as she navigates her affair with Edward, her duties as a wife and mother, and the eventual heartbreak of being replaced by Wallis Simpson.
What I liked the most is the novel was not just another romance. It portrays women of the times. Dependence on men and meeting the expectations of society. This was a lovely novel about a little known lady hidden in history as a prominent figures.
October 24, 2020
The first half was almost a 3 star fiction read. And the second half was barely a 2.
This is a first effort, it seems. Many will like the dishing of scandal and betrayals. Nearly everyone in the mix of 7 or 8 prime characters will be committing them upon each other. The descriptions of high class travel, clothing, jewelry, and attitude that accompanied them will be (perhaps?) more interesting to others.
Prose form is ok, but the switching of time periods left you wondering what the hell happened to Lord Furness. It certainly did for me. And there were other voids that didn't belong to a novel which becomes so redundant upon so many other crux points. Like the personality of Thelma and Gloria Morgan's mother. And Little Gloria's nurse.
It was NOT the royal aspect that made me pick up this book. Instead it was the Gloria Vanderbilt connection. Because I've read other non-fiction and/or fiction works upon her young life. Way, way before the jeans. And the court case for her custody that was legend. I've even seen old films of her and the nurse going up the steps of the court house.
Regardless, this is an author that may have potential but it sure isn't in this long and over-worked piece. They were all of them in that society, every one- adulterers and hedonists. Extreme. And the spending habits were despicable, IMHO. Especially considering how many millions were destitute during many of those same years.
This is a first effort, it seems. Many will like the dishing of scandal and betrayals. Nearly everyone in the mix of 7 or 8 prime characters will be committing them upon each other. The descriptions of high class travel, clothing, jewelry, and attitude that accompanied them will be (perhaps?) more interesting to others.
Prose form is ok, but the switching of time periods left you wondering what the hell happened to Lord Furness. It certainly did for me. And there were other voids that didn't belong to a novel which becomes so redundant upon so many other crux points. Like the personality of Thelma and Gloria Morgan's mother. And Little Gloria's nurse.
It was NOT the royal aspect that made me pick up this book. Instead it was the Gloria Vanderbilt connection. Because I've read other non-fiction and/or fiction works upon her young life. Way, way before the jeans. And the court case for her custody that was legend. I've even seen old films of her and the nurse going up the steps of the court house.
Regardless, this is an author that may have potential but it sure isn't in this long and over-worked piece. They were all of them in that society, every one- adulterers and hedonists. Extreme. And the spending habits were despicable, IMHO. Especially considering how many millions were destitute during many of those same years.
July 25, 2020
Elegantly fascinating about an oft unheard of woman who helped change the history of the British monarchy. Her niece, however, was quite famous as Poor Little Gloria Vanderbilt and the custody scandal that rocked the country in the 1930's. It was a fun peek into the lives of the rich and powerful, but ultimately it left me sad because it proves that money can't buy happiness.
June 7, 2024
I did not quite love it. Which in part is probably why it took me so long to get through. Book lovers like us cannot afford ten or so days with one single book. I am not a DNF-er by nature, but I would have. It does not fit with any challenge, except a personal one. I am loosely using Elizabeth II as my remarkable person of the year, and I daresay this is my second book about the abdicated King Edward. Soon my books take us into her early childhood, beginning with the Royal Governess.
But why did I stick with it then? This is a book about (as the title says) the woman before Wallis Simpson, and we get to meet her in this book, although not as dicey as the book flop synopsis teases. But, Thelma is the sister of Gloria Vanderbuilt, and she leaves the would-be, soon to be King, to attend her sister's side for a scandal, one resulting in a trial that will take Little Gloria Vanderbuilt away from her. Well the reason I stuck endlessly through this, is that I wanted to know. What happened with the scandal of the Vanderbuilts? And what happened with Thelma and David (Edward), and how did that lead to Wallis Simpson? I am not sure that I know the answers to any of these three questions, after the book has been completed. Nor was I entertained particularly. This author also wrote the Paris Assignment, and so I do not know if the trouble lay in the lack of interest in the storyline she chose, the lack of depth in the actual characters, or the writing - so I will reserve judgement and try her next book. Glad to be moving onto better and brighter things, although my next book (Listen for the Lie) is engaging out of the gate, but promises to be dark and twisty. But at five percent, I can already see why people are loving it and why I had to wait months for it from the library. It is the pick up that I need.
But why did I stick with it then? This is a book about (as the title says) the woman before Wallis Simpson, and we get to meet her in this book, although not as dicey as the book flop synopsis teases. But, Thelma is the sister of Gloria Vanderbuilt, and she leaves the would-be, soon to be King, to attend her sister's side for a scandal, one resulting in a trial that will take Little Gloria Vanderbuilt away from her. Well the reason I stuck endlessly through this, is that I wanted to know. What happened with the scandal of the Vanderbuilts? And what happened with Thelma and David (Edward), and how did that lead to Wallis Simpson? I am not sure that I know the answers to any of these three questions, after the book has been completed. Nor was I entertained particularly. This author also wrote the Paris Assignment, and so I do not know if the trouble lay in the lack of interest in the storyline she chose, the lack of depth in the actual characters, or the writing - so I will reserve judgement and try her next book. Glad to be moving onto better and brighter things, although my next book (Listen for the Lie) is engaging out of the gate, but promises to be dark and twisty. But at five percent, I can already see why people are loving it and why I had to wait months for it from the library. It is the pick up that I need.
March 16, 2023
Pasitvirtino mano įtarimai. Skaityti apie aukštuomenės intrigas skirta ne man. Karališkosios šeimos gyvenimas ir skandalai tikrai įdomi tema ir lengvai randa savo skaitytoją, bet manęs ši knyga iki galo taip ir nesuintrigavo.
Tai tikrais faktais paremta istorija apie dukart išsiskyrusią amerikietę Thelmą Morgan, kuri sužavėjo ir apsuko galvą Velso princui Edvardui. Tuometėje visuomenėje skyrybos buvo visiškai nepriimtinas dalykas, ypač karališkoje šeimoje. Tad jų santykiai, nors ir grįsti abipuse meile, tampa vieša paslaptimi. Thelma ne tik mėgaujasi princo meilužės statusu, bet ir pergyvena šeimos dramą. Jos vyras jai neištikimas, o mylima sesuo dvynė kovoja dėl dukrelės auginimo ir priežiūros teisių Amerikoje. Teismų procesą temdo ypatingas seserų statusas ir karališkosios šeimos betarpiškas kišimasis į teismo procesą.
Man patiko pasakojimo detalės, kurios sukosi apie karališkos šeimos buitį, smulkiai aprašytus interjerus, pomėgius, dienotvarkę. Nustebino, koks menkas ir skurdus ryšys buvo tarp tėvų ir vaikų, kaip mažai laiko jie leisdavo kartu ir neužmegzdavo gilesnio emocinio santykio. Skaudu buvo skaityti apie močiutės, mamos ir dukros susipriešinimą. Įdomiai užkabinta teisinė Amerikos sistema. Ir visų svarbiausia - be galo stiprus seserų ryšys, bet...
Mano skoniui knyga buvo per daug lėta, norėjosi daugiau blizgučių, atviresnių dramų. Nors menkai tikėtina, kad karališkoji šeima drabstytis purvais ir viešai skalbs savo apatinius baltinius. Vis tik to norėjau.
Knygą vertinu palankiai 3.5/5. Rekomenduoju perskaityti karališkosios šeimos ir jų gyvenimo istorijos gerbėjams. Istorinių romanų, tikrų istorijų ištikimiems skaitytojams.
Tai tikrais faktais paremta istorija apie dukart išsiskyrusią amerikietę Thelmą Morgan, kuri sužavėjo ir apsuko galvą Velso princui Edvardui. Tuometėje visuomenėje skyrybos buvo visiškai nepriimtinas dalykas, ypač karališkoje šeimoje. Tad jų santykiai, nors ir grįsti abipuse meile, tampa vieša paslaptimi. Thelma ne tik mėgaujasi princo meilužės statusu, bet ir pergyvena šeimos dramą. Jos vyras jai neištikimas, o mylima sesuo dvynė kovoja dėl dukrelės auginimo ir priežiūros teisių Amerikoje. Teismų procesą temdo ypatingas seserų statusas ir karališkosios šeimos betarpiškas kišimasis į teismo procesą.
Man patiko pasakojimo detalės, kurios sukosi apie karališkos šeimos buitį, smulkiai aprašytus interjerus, pomėgius, dienotvarkę. Nustebino, koks menkas ir skurdus ryšys buvo tarp tėvų ir vaikų, kaip mažai laiko jie leisdavo kartu ir neužmegzdavo gilesnio emocinio santykio. Skaudu buvo skaityti apie močiutės, mamos ir dukros susipriešinimą. Įdomiai užkabinta teisinė Amerikos sistema. Ir visų svarbiausia - be galo stiprus seserų ryšys, bet...
Mano skoniui knyga buvo per daug lėta, norėjosi daugiau blizgučių, atviresnių dramų. Nors menkai tikėtina, kad karališkoji šeima drabstytis purvais ir viešai skalbs savo apatinius baltinius. Vis tik to norėjau.
Knygą vertinu palankiai 3.5/5. Rekomenduoju perskaityti karališkosios šeimos ir jų gyvenimo istorijos gerbėjams. Istorinių romanų, tikrų istorijų ištikimiems skaitytojams.
June 17, 2020
Book: The Woman Before Wallis
Author: Bryn Turnbull
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Mira Books, for providing me with an ARC.
I get why people enjoy this book, but I didn’t. I really do think that I’m just the wrong person for this. I just honestly could not get into it and it’s not the book’s fault. Those of you who read a lot know what I’m talking about. Sometimes you come across a book that you don’t like and it’s nobody’s fault.
Alright, so with that being said, let’s get into this….
While the characters and the world did interest me, it just wasn’t enough for me to keep reading. I wanted to be a little bit more invested in them than I was, but I just couldn’t really connect with them. I felt that they were all cookie cutter and that I had read these characters before. There was so much casual name dropping and characters that it was just hard to keep everyone straight. Right away, this was kind of a red flag to me. This shows me that there was a major lack of character development. Now, I know that with a large cast that it can be hard to remember so and so, but for as many characters as it happened to me for, it just shows me a lack of development. I know that a of them are real people, but you can still develop them properly and give them a chance to make their own mark on the story.
The world should have also pulled me in a little more than it did. There was a lot of info dumps. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction and, for that matter, historical fiction that revolves around real historical figures. Most of these books did not have info dumps; there are a few. I just read another book by this publisher, The Black Swan of Paris, and it was a lot more put together than this one-in my humble opinion. While The Black Swan of Paris does not feature a lot of (if any) real historical figures, we do get a better presentation of what is going on in the world. I honestly felt like that in The Woman Before Wallis, the author did not know what to do with her information nor did she know how to apply it. It was like she didn’t know how to take what she had learned and form it into a entertaining read. Instead, we got something that reads like a beach read, when it really shouldn’t. If that is the vibe we were going for, then forget about what I just said.
Another issue I had was that this was supposed be a book about scandal. It could have been presented a little bit better than it was. If you are going to put the word “scandal” in your subtitle, then it probably should be a little bit more of a focus of the book than it was. Instead, we get a lot of fluff and a beach read, which I guess that is what beach reads are. Again, I just don’t know if it’s because the author was unsure of how to handle her information or what.
I see why people like this book, but it just wasn’t for me. If you think you might like this book, it comes out on July 21, 2020.
Author: Bryn Turnbull
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Mira Books, for providing me with an ARC.
I get why people enjoy this book, but I didn’t. I really do think that I’m just the wrong person for this. I just honestly could not get into it and it’s not the book’s fault. Those of you who read a lot know what I’m talking about. Sometimes you come across a book that you don’t like and it’s nobody’s fault.
Alright, so with that being said, let’s get into this….
While the characters and the world did interest me, it just wasn’t enough for me to keep reading. I wanted to be a little bit more invested in them than I was, but I just couldn’t really connect with them. I felt that they were all cookie cutter and that I had read these characters before. There was so much casual name dropping and characters that it was just hard to keep everyone straight. Right away, this was kind of a red flag to me. This shows me that there was a major lack of character development. Now, I know that with a large cast that it can be hard to remember so and so, but for as many characters as it happened to me for, it just shows me a lack of development. I know that a of them are real people, but you can still develop them properly and give them a chance to make their own mark on the story.
The world should have also pulled me in a little more than it did. There was a lot of info dumps. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction and, for that matter, historical fiction that revolves around real historical figures. Most of these books did not have info dumps; there are a few. I just read another book by this publisher, The Black Swan of Paris, and it was a lot more put together than this one-in my humble opinion. While The Black Swan of Paris does not feature a lot of (if any) real historical figures, we do get a better presentation of what is going on in the world. I honestly felt like that in The Woman Before Wallis, the author did not know what to do with her information nor did she know how to apply it. It was like she didn’t know how to take what she had learned and form it into a entertaining read. Instead, we got something that reads like a beach read, when it really shouldn’t. If that is the vibe we were going for, then forget about what I just said.
Another issue I had was that this was supposed be a book about scandal. It could have been presented a little bit better than it was. If you are going to put the word “scandal” in your subtitle, then it probably should be a little bit more of a focus of the book than it was. Instead, we get a lot of fluff and a beach read, which I guess that is what beach reads are. Again, I just don’t know if it’s because the author was unsure of how to handle her information or what.
I see why people like this book, but it just wasn’t for me. If you think you might like this book, it comes out on July 21, 2020.
May 7, 2022
Man čia absoliučiai buvo dangiški migdolai širdžiai. Dievinu tokius skaitinius ir ne kitaip. Kodėl? Nes: 1) gali skaityti kaip romaną ir nepritrūksi nei siužeto vingių, nei intrigų, nei polėkio; 2) žinodamas, kad istorija parašyta remiantis tikrais faktais, galėsi neišlįst iš googlės. Taip, šį kartą tapau tuo antruoju variantu. Buvo baisiai įdomu. Ir į nuotraukas pavėpsoti, ir paskaityti kai kurias detales ne tokiu romano stiliumi.
‼️Beje, autorė prieš sėsdama rašyti, net 2 metus TIK tyrinėjo laikotarpį bei karališkosios šeimos gyvenimo peripetijas. Tad paiko "cacalialia mylu mylu" saldybių liūno šioje meilužėje NĖRA.‼️
Turbūt ne vienas esate girdėjęs, kad 1936 m., tuometinis Velso princas, atsisakė karūnos ir vedė amerikietę Wallis Simpson. Tačiau ši istorija ne apie tai. Tai pasakojimas apie princui svarbią moterį, kuri buvo IKI ponios Wallis - apie Thelmą Morgan Furness. O visas istorijos smagumas, kad būtent Thelma ir "prirodė" princui šią damą, tiksliau, paprašė jos "pasaugoti" princą, kol pati tvarkys reikalus kitame žemyne. O tie reikaliukai, patikėkit, irgi - ohoho.
Vardan šventos tiesos, tai link pabaigos šiek tiek pavargau (o gal aptingau) skaityti ir matyti tiek detalių, tad nemanau, jog būčiau supykusi, jei istorija būtų kokiu 50 psl. trumpesnė. Na, bet gyvenimas jau toks - ne visada bus taip, kaip patogu tau vienam. Džiaugiuosi atradusi šią knygą ir, dievaži, nepailsiu rekomenduoti ir jums, ypač, jei patiko "Seserys Chanel" ar "Vasara Parko aveniu". Čia mano pastarasis Svajonių knygų romanų TOP - stiprių moterų istorijos, žengiančios tikrų faktų pėdomis. 5 ⭐️ ir laukiu panašių istorijų DAR.
REKOMENDUOJU, jei labiau už viską mėgstate romanus, kurie viena ranka apglėbę laiko itin gausų kiekį tikrų faktų, o kita - kedena dailų, šiek tiek romantikos suminkštintą pasakojimą. Rekomenduoju, jei norite ne tik pasiausti maždaug šimtmečio senumo vakarėliuose, pamatyti kuo vilkėjo, ką užkandžiavo, pagal kokią muziką šoko ar kur lankėsi aukštuomenė, bet dar ir suvokti, kad dalis faktų įvyko IŠ TIKRŲJŲ ir ne bet kur, o karališkosios šeimos aplinkoje. Rekomenduoju ir tiems, kurie nori gero, įtraukiančio ir smulkmeniško romano.
NEREKOMENDUOJU, jei esate prisiekę karališkosios šeimos intrigų žinovai, iššniukštinėję ne vieną detalę, įvykį bei susieję juos tarpusavy - nežinau, ar sužinosite dar kažką naujo.
‼️Beje, autorė prieš sėsdama rašyti, net 2 metus TIK tyrinėjo laikotarpį bei karališkosios šeimos gyvenimo peripetijas. Tad paiko "cacalialia mylu mylu" saldybių liūno šioje meilužėje NĖRA.‼️
Turbūt ne vienas esate girdėjęs, kad 1936 m., tuometinis Velso princas, atsisakė karūnos ir vedė amerikietę Wallis Simpson. Tačiau ši istorija ne apie tai. Tai pasakojimas apie princui svarbią moterį, kuri buvo IKI ponios Wallis - apie Thelmą Morgan Furness. O visas istorijos smagumas, kad būtent Thelma ir "prirodė" princui šią damą, tiksliau, paprašė jos "pasaugoti" princą, kol pati tvarkys reikalus kitame žemyne. O tie reikaliukai, patikėkit, irgi - ohoho.
Vardan šventos tiesos, tai link pabaigos šiek tiek pavargau (o gal aptingau) skaityti ir matyti tiek detalių, tad nemanau, jog būčiau supykusi, jei istorija būtų kokiu 50 psl. trumpesnė. Na, bet gyvenimas jau toks - ne visada bus taip, kaip patogu tau vienam. Džiaugiuosi atradusi šią knygą ir, dievaži, nepailsiu rekomenduoti ir jums, ypač, jei patiko "Seserys Chanel" ar "Vasara Parko aveniu". Čia mano pastarasis Svajonių knygų romanų TOP - stiprių moterų istorijos, žengiančios tikrų faktų pėdomis. 5 ⭐️ ir laukiu panašių istorijų DAR.
REKOMENDUOJU, jei labiau už viską mėgstate romanus, kurie viena ranka apglėbę laiko itin gausų kiekį tikrų faktų, o kita - kedena dailų, šiek tiek romantikos suminkštintą pasakojimą. Rekomenduoju, jei norite ne tik pasiausti maždaug šimtmečio senumo vakarėliuose, pamatyti kuo vilkėjo, ką užkandžiavo, pagal kokią muziką šoko ar kur lankėsi aukštuomenė, bet dar ir suvokti, kad dalis faktų įvyko IŠ TIKRŲJŲ ir ne bet kur, o karališkosios šeimos aplinkoje. Rekomenduoju ir tiems, kurie nori gero, įtraukiančio ir smulkmeniško romano.
NEREKOMENDUOJU, jei esate prisiekę karališkosios šeimos intrigų žinovai, iššniukštinėję ne vieną detalę, įvykį bei susieję juos tarpusavy - nežinau, ar sužinosite dar kažką naujo.
January 10, 2021
The Woman Before Wallis is a guilty pleasure of a book- historical fiction, yes, but baked with the scandals of branches of lesser British aristocracy, the wealthy American magnates a century ago and studded with names which connect to present day racy Royal behaviours. Nothing new under the sun, as they say! Thelma Furness happened to catch the eye of the Prince of Wales, as she lingered in an unhappy aristocratic marriage to Duke Furness. Lucky woman that she was- unlike her sister Gloria Vanderbilt- her husband set her up nicely after divorce so she could pursue her dalliance happily.
The Prince was quite the ladies’ man, but is charmingly represented here- as is how he wandered into Wallis Simpson’s arms. The European press was very aware of its royalty’s dalliances and often shocking actions; marriages were business arrangements and lovers were profuse unlike the more “stodgy” American ethic.
Some of the history has been slightly rearranged to fit the author’s purposes; it didn’t affect the flow and tone of the story.
I pondered on Queen Elizabeth’s children, and how the aunts and uncles who had come before them were more of an example than their own parents or grandparents, who appear to have been the exceptions.
Families are complicated- and famous ones are documented!
Well written, entertaining and dare I say (?), educational.
The Prince was quite the ladies’ man, but is charmingly represented here- as is how he wandered into Wallis Simpson’s arms. The European press was very aware of its royalty’s dalliances and often shocking actions; marriages were business arrangements and lovers were profuse unlike the more “stodgy” American ethic.
Some of the history has been slightly rearranged to fit the author’s purposes; it didn’t affect the flow and tone of the story.
I pondered on Queen Elizabeth’s children, and how the aunts and uncles who had come before them were more of an example than their own parents or grandparents, who appear to have been the exceptions.
Families are complicated- and famous ones are documented!
Well written, entertaining and dare I say (?), educational.
September 19, 2022
Before King Edward VIII (known to his closest friends as David) abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorced American, there was "The Woman Before Wallis," his married mistress, Thelma.
This was my first time reading anything about this subject. It was very thorough, and I was amazed that it's a debut! While the royal life might sound glitzy and glamorous from afar, there sure were a lot of characters searching for happiness in unconventional ways. I definitely cannot imagine being away from my children so much and not participating in their daily upbringing. That part of this story made me very sad. Overall, however, it was entertaining and deliciously scandalous!
With so many of the characters sporting multiple names, I wish it would have had a visual aid, such as a family tree or two.
Lastly, this book also touched on the very public trial of Thelma’s twin sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, over the custody of her daughter, Little Gloria Vanderbilt (aka Anderson Cooper's mother). Although the conclusion to Thelma's story was satisfying, I am left wanting to know more about Wallis' marriage to David and the life of (Little) Gloria Vanderbilt!
Location: NYC and England
I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was my first time reading anything about this subject. It was very thorough, and I was amazed that it's a debut! While the royal life might sound glitzy and glamorous from afar, there sure were a lot of characters searching for happiness in unconventional ways. I definitely cannot imagine being away from my children so much and not participating in their daily upbringing. That part of this story made me very sad. Overall, however, it was entertaining and deliciously scandalous!
With so many of the characters sporting multiple names, I wish it would have had a visual aid, such as a family tree or two.
Lastly, this book also touched on the very public trial of Thelma’s twin sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, over the custody of her daughter, Little Gloria Vanderbilt (aka Anderson Cooper's mother). Although the conclusion to Thelma's story was satisfying, I am left wanting to know more about Wallis' marriage to David and the life of (Little) Gloria Vanderbilt!
Location: NYC and England
I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 12, 2020
Nothing new here. Regurgitated old news. Boring.
Read
January 9, 2021*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘People like us, she thought triumphantly, own the world and everything in it.’
The Woman Before Wallis is the debut novel by Bryn Turnball. A story filled with glitz, glamour, scandal, passion, lust, ambition and riches, The Woman Before Wallis unveils the notorious life story of the American woman who captured the heart of the future king before Wallis Simpson came along.
Following a swift romantic affair, Thelma Morgan marries Viscount Duke Furness in the late 1920s. Upon their union, Thelma is soon swept up in a world of luxury and riches. Introduced to royalty and moving in the highest social circles, Thelma encounters the future heir to the British throne, the Prince of Wales. A relationship soon ensues between the future king and the wife of the Viscount, but this ill fated love affair is cut short. With troubles abroad, Thelma must return to America to support her twin sister Gloria in the fight of her life. A scandal of epic proportions is brimming back home and Thelma must do all she can to help her sister in this time of need. A fateful decision to leave Edward, Prince of Wales under the care of her confidante Wallis Simpson has unexpected consequences for the future of the British monarchy.
I have long been fascinated by the life of the king who abdicated the British throne and his wife, Wallis Simpson. I have sought out various fiction, non-fiction, documentaries and dramatisations featuring the royal couple. Until Bryn Turnball’s debut novel, I had not encountered Thelma Morgan/Furness before and I’m glad I could discover something about this enthralling woman’s life, thanks to The Woman Before Wallis.
With themes of power, status, privilege, high society and belonging directing the events of this novel, The Woman Before Wallis recreates an interesting era with a sense of vibrancy. A time of change, as the world began to plunge into the Great Depression area, Turnball does an excellent job of outlining the historical context of her novel. Drawing on accounts, newspaper articles, newsreels and non-fiction material from this time, every last detail has been recorded. Turnball provides the reader with a wealth of period specific detail on fashion trends, music, culture, cuisine, social practices and morals of this era. We get a glimpse into the world of the upper class and aristocracy through Thelma’s marriage to Viscount Furness and of course, her fateful meeting with the future king. On the other side, Thelma’s sister Gloria shows the audience of the riches and power of those in the ruling class in the United States. All this was really interesting to uncover.
At the centre of Bryn Turnball’s narrative is Thelma, a woman with a great air of sophistication, ambition and passion for life. We witness Thelma’s fateful love affair with the Prince of Wales unfold. There are some interesting relationships explored in The Woman Before Wallis. The two sisters have a rather difficult and emotionally fraught relationship with their mother, along with some rather mixed up marital relationships, passionate affairs and parenting problems. It certainly made for an insightful read as Turnball delves into the complicated relationships and lives of the very rich. However, what remained very clear in The Woman Before Wallis was the strong bond between Thelma and her sister, which seem to withstand a great deal of turmoil.
A dramatic and informed look at a woman of power, status, beauty and glamour, Bryn Turnball uncovers many revealing aspects of a figure who may be known to many as just another of Prince Edward’s conquests. The Woman Before Wallis suggests there was much more to this woman than meets the eye.
‘People like us, she thought triumphantly, own the world and everything in it.’
The Woman Before Wallis is the debut novel by Bryn Turnball. A story filled with glitz, glamour, scandal, passion, lust, ambition and riches, The Woman Before Wallis unveils the notorious life story of the American woman who captured the heart of the future king before Wallis Simpson came along.
Following a swift romantic affair, Thelma Morgan marries Viscount Duke Furness in the late 1920s. Upon their union, Thelma is soon swept up in a world of luxury and riches. Introduced to royalty and moving in the highest social circles, Thelma encounters the future heir to the British throne, the Prince of Wales. A relationship soon ensues between the future king and the wife of the Viscount, but this ill fated love affair is cut short. With troubles abroad, Thelma must return to America to support her twin sister Gloria in the fight of her life. A scandal of epic proportions is brimming back home and Thelma must do all she can to help her sister in this time of need. A fateful decision to leave Edward, Prince of Wales under the care of her confidante Wallis Simpson has unexpected consequences for the future of the British monarchy.
I have long been fascinated by the life of the king who abdicated the British throne and his wife, Wallis Simpson. I have sought out various fiction, non-fiction, documentaries and dramatisations featuring the royal couple. Until Bryn Turnball’s debut novel, I had not encountered Thelma Morgan/Furness before and I’m glad I could discover something about this enthralling woman’s life, thanks to The Woman Before Wallis.
With themes of power, status, privilege, high society and belonging directing the events of this novel, The Woman Before Wallis recreates an interesting era with a sense of vibrancy. A time of change, as the world began to plunge into the Great Depression area, Turnball does an excellent job of outlining the historical context of her novel. Drawing on accounts, newspaper articles, newsreels and non-fiction material from this time, every last detail has been recorded. Turnball provides the reader with a wealth of period specific detail on fashion trends, music, culture, cuisine, social practices and morals of this era. We get a glimpse into the world of the upper class and aristocracy through Thelma’s marriage to Viscount Furness and of course, her fateful meeting with the future king. On the other side, Thelma’s sister Gloria shows the audience of the riches and power of those in the ruling class in the United States. All this was really interesting to uncover.
At the centre of Bryn Turnball’s narrative is Thelma, a woman with a great air of sophistication, ambition and passion for life. We witness Thelma’s fateful love affair with the Prince of Wales unfold. There are some interesting relationships explored in The Woman Before Wallis. The two sisters have a rather difficult and emotionally fraught relationship with their mother, along with some rather mixed up marital relationships, passionate affairs and parenting problems. It certainly made for an insightful read as Turnball delves into the complicated relationships and lives of the very rich. However, what remained very clear in The Woman Before Wallis was the strong bond between Thelma and her sister, which seem to withstand a great deal of turmoil.
A dramatic and informed look at a woman of power, status, beauty and glamour, Bryn Turnball uncovers many revealing aspects of a figure who may be known to many as just another of Prince Edward’s conquests. The Woman Before Wallis suggests there was much more to this woman than meets the eye.
March 18, 2024
Knyga buvo įdomi.
Tik vat kiek nusivyliau, kad nebuvo konkrečiau aprašyta Deivydo ir Telmos santykių baigtis. Juolab, kad nepriklausau daugeliui ir nežinojau apie Velso princo tolimesnius sprendimus ir santykius.
O taip knyga tikrai verta laiko. Visi tie blizgučiai, meilužių statusai ir bylos nagrinėjimas dėl mažosios Glorijos. Kažkas kitaip.
Tik vat kiek nusivyliau, kad nebuvo konkrečiau aprašyta Deivydo ir Telmos santykių baigtis. Juolab, kad nepriklausau daugeliui ir nežinojau apie Velso princo tolimesnius sprendimus ir santykius.
O taip knyga tikrai verta laiko. Visi tie blizgučiai, meilužių statusai ir bylos nagrinėjimas dėl mažosios Glorijos. Kažkas kitaip.
January 26, 2021
Thelma Morgan, an American, is coming off a difficult marriage when she meets Lord Furness, an English Viscount. The two have a whirlwind romance and eventually marry. Life as Lady Furness suits Thelma and at first it is all that she expects but after the birth of her son, her husband begins to have affairs. Initially, Thelma simply resigns herself but soon she realizes she has caught the attention of another man: Edward, the Prince of Wales. Seeing as her husband does not change his ways, Thelma embarks on an affair of her own with the prince. When her sister is in trouble, Thelma travels to the United States to be by her side and asks a friend to please look after the prince. This decision will change everything.
Another book about the House of Windsor and I love it. This is perfect for those that love The Crown (by the way, the fourth season is absolutely fantastic, the Balmoral episode in particular I enjoyed). The Woman Before Wallis focuses on Thelma Morgan, the woman the Prince of Wales loved before Wallis Simpson. The two meet when Lord Furness, Thelma's husband, introduces them at an event. When her marriage to the Viscount begins to crack due to his affairs, Thelma can not simply sit idly. Gradually, she becomes more involved with the prince until she becomes his mistress. Though the circumstances are not ideal (not to mention the external problmes with their families), she is happy in this relationship and so appears, the prince as well. When her sister, Gloria Vanderbilt, has trouble in the states, Thelma asks her good friend Wallis to please take care of the prince on her behalf. The rest is history.
I knew of Wallis Simpson of course but this is the first I learn of Thelma Furness. While some of these characters I am familiar with, some were new to me. Characterization felt genuine, the pace complimented the tone of the book and overall the book was entertaining as well as informative. The narrative is simply fascinating. For a family that prides itself so much over decorum there is certainly a matching level of scandal. I liked the way in which the book unfolded and thought the ending apt. Thelma is an interesting study. Not only was she involved with the prince, she was also the sister to Gloria Vanderbilt. As such, Thelma was part of the most famous/infamous custody battle in the United States over Gloria'ss daughter who was also named Gloria. The way in which Turnball incorporates both these stories is well done. It has piqued my curiosity over this pair of sisters and I will seek a book about them at a later date. As for this one, I would recommend for those that are interested in the royal family.
Another book about the House of Windsor and I love it. This is perfect for those that love The Crown (by the way, the fourth season is absolutely fantastic, the Balmoral episode in particular I enjoyed). The Woman Before Wallis focuses on Thelma Morgan, the woman the Prince of Wales loved before Wallis Simpson. The two meet when Lord Furness, Thelma's husband, introduces them at an event. When her marriage to the Viscount begins to crack due to his affairs, Thelma can not simply sit idly. Gradually, she becomes more involved with the prince until she becomes his mistress. Though the circumstances are not ideal (not to mention the external problmes with their families), she is happy in this relationship and so appears, the prince as well. When her sister, Gloria Vanderbilt, has trouble in the states, Thelma asks her good friend Wallis to please take care of the prince on her behalf. The rest is history.
I knew of Wallis Simpson of course but this is the first I learn of Thelma Furness. While some of these characters I am familiar with, some were new to me. Characterization felt genuine, the pace complimented the tone of the book and overall the book was entertaining as well as informative. The narrative is simply fascinating. For a family that prides itself so much over decorum there is certainly a matching level of scandal. I liked the way in which the book unfolded and thought the ending apt. Thelma is an interesting study. Not only was she involved with the prince, she was also the sister to Gloria Vanderbilt. As such, Thelma was part of the most famous/infamous custody battle in the United States over Gloria'ss daughter who was also named Gloria. The way in which Turnball incorporates both these stories is well done. It has piqued my curiosity over this pair of sisters and I will seek a book about them at a later date. As for this one, I would recommend for those that are interested in the royal family.
July 6, 2020
There are times when I really wonder about my judgment. Why did I think this would be a good choice for me? Am I surprised that the rich and famous lead terrible lives? Would I change places with them? No and No. I am surprised how well they live on no money. Bankrupt and inept with money and yet living a good life. I don't know how they do they do it.
This is the story of the famous Morgan sisters and their many loves and marriages throughout the upper echelon of people in America and England. They marry, have affairs and muck up their lives with apparent glee. One of them was involved with the Prince of Wales before he gave up his throne for the woman he loved, famous divorcee Wallis Simpson. It is really for the betterment of all us considering his Nazi ties and general stupidity. His brother made an excellent King.
The other sister was in a constant custody battle for her daughter with the paternal family, Vanderbilt. It was ugly and messy and the child is the one who suffered.
For those that love royal gossip, this could be quite entertaining. Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
This is the story of the famous Morgan sisters and their many loves and marriages throughout the upper echelon of people in America and England. They marry, have affairs and muck up their lives with apparent glee. One of them was involved with the Prince of Wales before he gave up his throne for the woman he loved, famous divorcee Wallis Simpson. It is really for the betterment of all us considering his Nazi ties and general stupidity. His brother made an excellent King.
The other sister was in a constant custody battle for her daughter with the paternal family, Vanderbilt. It was ugly and messy and the child is the one who suffered.
For those that love royal gossip, this could be quite entertaining. Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
October 1, 2020
📚 Hello Book Friends! THE WOMAN BEFORE WALLIS by Canadian author Bryn Turnbull is a novel based on the affair between Thelma Morgan Furness and Edward, Prince of Whale in the mid-’20s. This book is getting a lot of buzzes and I must confess that I have a thing for British royalty and had to read it to find out more about them. Bryn Turnbull delivered a well-researched account of Thelma’s life, her relationship with her twin sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, her two marriages, her standing in high society, and her affair with Prince Edward. It was also interesting to read about the famous Vanderbilt trial concerning the custody of young Gloria Laura Vanderbilt (daughter of Gloria and Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt) who later in life became a famous fashion designer. Most of you are familiar with the reason why Prince Edward abdicated his throne, but you will be surprised to find out the circumstances of how he met Wallis Simpson. This book will tell you how he fell for her.
The book is compelling and captivating. A great start for Bryn Turnbull’s career as an author. Well done!
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May 27, 2020
It's a little weird to me when a historical novel feels like a beach read, but this is one of those.
It's an endlessly entertaining tale of excess, betrayals and, yes, scandals!
I loved our characters and the author puts us squarely into their lives.
This is definitely on the lighter side. While the research is impeccable, expect more emphasis on the gossip than on any heavy history.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!
It's an endlessly entertaining tale of excess, betrayals and, yes, scandals!
I loved our characters and the author puts us squarely into their lives.
This is definitely on the lighter side. While the research is impeccable, expect more emphasis on the gossip than on any heavy history.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!
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