The Duchess
Book Feature - The Duchess by Wendy Holden
HBL Note: First, can we just take a moment to admire that book cover? This one deserves all the heart eye emojis. And even if you picked up this book because you loved the cover, you wouldn’t be disappointed by the story. From best selling author Wendy Holden, THE DUCHESS is a fresh look at Wallis Simpson’s story from fun-loving girlfriend of the future king to villainized woman. The press has a history of blaming American women for the actions of British royalty. And if you love reading about Royals as much as I do, you might check out Wendy’s previous novel, The Royal Governess: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth II's Childhood. Scroll down to read more about THE DUCHESS by Wendy Holden.
Book Feature - The Duchess by Wendy Holden
Book Feature - The Duchess by Wendy Holden
From the publisher:
1928. A middle-aged foreigner comes to London with average looks, no money and no connections. Wallis’s first months in the city are lonely, dull and depressing. With no friends of her own she follows the glamorous set in magazines and goes to watch society weddings. Her stuffy husband Ernest’s idea of fun, meanwhile, is touring historic monuments.
When an unexpected encounter leads to a house party with the Prince of Wales, Wallis’s star begins to rise. Her secret weapon is her American pep and honesty. For the prince she is a breath of fresh air. As her friendship with him grows, their relationship deepens into love. Wallis is plunged into a world of unimaginable luxury and privilege, enjoying weekends together at his private palace on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Wallis knows the fun and excitement can’t last. The prince will have to marry and she will return to Ernest. The sudden death of George V seems to make this inevitable; the Prince of Wales is now King Edward VIII. When, to her shock and amazement, he refuses to give her up--or recognize that they are facing impossible odds--her fairy tale becomes a nightmare. The royal family close ranks to shut her out and Ernest gives an ultimatum.
Wallis finds herself trapped when Edward insists on abdicating his throne. She can’t escape the overwhelming public outrage and villainized, she becomes the woman everyone blames—the face of the most dramatic royal scandal of the twentieth century.
Book Feature - The Duchess by Wendy Holden
