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Post by superdreen on Dec 15, 2016 10:38:18 GMT
just been listening to a really good drama on Radio 4 extra called Wallis - the life and Legend of Wallis Simpson. I was hoping it had been adapted from a book but no mention on the BBC website and I have also checked 'google' Anyone know of a good book about the life of Wallis Simpson?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2016 15:08:01 GMT
Anna Sebba's book has some good reviews.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2016 15:21:09 GMT
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Post by Miranda on Dec 18, 2016 15:53:28 GMT
Hmm.... I think the author had some very fixed ideas on gender roles that affected her judgement.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2016 18:58:54 GMT
The problem is that it is all based on here-say and speculation; nothing seems to be based on actual evidence. A writer speaks to some doctors who are willing to speculate. I would never say that their analysis was completely wrong in a medical sense; however, when they give opinions based, not on knowledge of the patient, but on their own particular prejudices "because she looked like this" or "because she did (or didn't) do this or that" sort of things, they can weave lots of stories which fit a particular agenda. Whoever these doctors were, they should have kept their mouths shut.
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Post by superdreen on Dec 22, 2016 0:54:13 GMT
Just checked and my local library has the Anne Sebba book in stock so I have reserved it although I am a bit concerned about her comments about gender, but it will be interesting to read how she justifies her reasoning.
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Post by bidiein on Jan 2, 2017 20:14:01 GMT
Anna Sebba's book has some good reviews. I read this and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The authors look at 'gender issues' is necessary to address some of the vile nonsense put about at the time of the affair - that Wallis was everything from a man to a prostitute. In reality she came from a very distinguished - but sadly poor - American family.
It did not matter what she COULD do, in the eyes of the British press and some members of the Royal Family she was forever damned.
Oddly Edward seemed to have been largely 'forgiven'.
Some letters were released in the past 18 months which seemed to suggest that Wallis expected to be cast aside for a younger model as was the way of the Prince of Wales. She seemed to be stunned when he made it clear he intended to marry her.
I think you will enjoy the book.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 20:52:10 GMT
I've always found the story of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor a bit of a mystery. The lady certainly wasn't the most glamorous of Edward's paramours, but she was said by contemporaries to be amusing and charming, and must have had something to enchant the world's most eligible bachelor. It's seemed to me over the years that above all, Edward did not want to be King, and he saw her as the perfect escape route, knowing he would not be allowed to become King if he married her. What went on between them in their lives will probably never be known. Perhaps they had private arrangements which remained secret in that world of D-notices and Press cover-ups.
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Post by beverley61 on May 31, 2017 12:13:04 GMT
There is a much older book called The heart has it's reasons, which I believe was co-authored by Wallis Simpson (don't quote me on that), it was published just after WW11 and is a relatively contemporary offering if you can get hold of a copy.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 12:17:22 GMT
There is a much older book called The heart has it's reasons, which I believe was co-authored by Wallis Simpson (don't quote me on that), it was published just after WW11 and is a relatively contemporary offering if you can get hold of a copy. As you can see, it is her memoirs.
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Post by beverley61 on May 31, 2017 14:24:51 GMT
I just remember my granny having a copy The Readers Digest Book Club. It was pristine, I don't think she ever read it.
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