If you enjoy juicy, gossipy family drama, jealous women, a royal family in turmoil and one very selfish American woman who has turned a whole family upside down well, The Windsor Affair is right for you.
Although historical fiction, Benjamin has researched the story of how the abdication of King Edward VIII came about as well as the uproar caused by his affair with Wallis Simpson, a married American who was already twice divorced. It also gives a glimpse into the longstanding feud between Queen Elizabeth who was married to King George VI after his brother gave up the throne and Wallis Simpson who they basically banished not only from the Royal Family, but from England along with her new husband who now had the title of Duke of Windsor…she was given the title of Dutchess of Windsor but it carried nothing with it. No curtsies or any power.
Make no mistake, in the 1930’s Wallis Simpson wanted to be Queen of England. Make no mistake Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon would never, ever allow it. Thus started a feud between these two strong women which would last until their deaths…or close to one of their deaths.
Elizabeth who was married to The Duke of York disliked Wallis Simpson so much that she would only speak of her as “that woman”. And Wallis did her best to start rumors about Elizaeth and her pedigree and she and Edward nick-named Elizabeth “Cookie”
Everything came to a head when King George dies suddenly, and Edward is thrust into the position of King. He was not ready for the role and perhaps never would be. He was a socializer with no real interest in working. He had also fallen madly in love with Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who was already married. When his brother died, he wanted to marry Wallis and make her the Queen. Needless to say, no one in England wanted that!
But Wallis did desperately want that, and she used every trick to get Edward to get her that job. The one thing she never imagined would happen was that he would abdicate. For her! She was crushed. Not only was she horrified but she was punished. She was told she would never hold a title, nor would anybody curtsy to her. And of course, she blamed Elizabeth who was now Queen because of Edward, and hated Wallis for what she caused the family, and she now certainly had the power to make their lives miserable. And that she did.
You see Edward lost everything (except Wallis) when he abdicated. He had no money, had to leave England and became a nomad of the rich and famous. Even his wedding to Wallis which was supposed to be this grand event only had a few guests because everybody was “busy”. Begging his brother for money to satisfy Wallis’ spending habits became his new job.
Unfortunately, this was the beginning of what everyone thought was this beautiful marriage, but the reality was it was filled with a naive husband, a jealous vindictive wife who was only happy when said husband bought her things with the money for these things he had to beg his brother for. They lived a humiliated life!
The rivalry between Queen Elizabeth and Wallis continued throughout the life of Edward. But it is said that their last correspondence was curious. What really did it mean?
The Windsor Affair is sensational in its stories, but really quite sad. You can’t help but wonder what if Wallis did not insist she become Queen? What if she hadn’t made an enemy of the new Queen? Although Wallis and Edward always looked the part, of being so in love, their lives were far from happy.
Thank you #NetGalley #DelacortePress #MelanieBenjamin #The WindsorAffair for the advanced copy.
Amazon.com: The Windsor Affair: A Novel: 9780593497883: Benjamin, Melanie: Books
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