The Duke and Duchess of Windsor are a fascinating example of a couple who could have had it all but threw it all away; there are parallels for the current Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Andrew Morton is a friendly royal biographer, famously having written 'Diana: Her True Story' in 1992. At the time, Buckingham Palace denied any involvement with the book but it later came out that Diana herself had been the source for most of Morton's work.

In this book, he drilled down to primary sources, many of them previously unknown and unused, which provides fresh insight into a much-maligned, controversial, contradictory, complicated woman. His work into Wallis' early life is wonderful, providing a nuance to That Woman that previously hasn't been given to her.

He glosses over the Nazi sympathies of the Duke of Windsor, attempting to whitewash the Duke's Nazi salutes as 'ill-advised' and 'spontaneous.' He almost gives a pass to the Duke for his virulent anti-Semitism and defense of Hitler, mentioning it only in passing when recounting a scene at a dinner party.

Although perhaps not the focus of the book, the Windsors' Nazi sympathies, involvement with the Nazi party, willingness to tour Germany, and defeatist attitudes towards Britain's prospects in WWII, were swept aside, despite the fact that those attributes were, in part, what continued the estrangement from the British Royal Family.

Overall, a good book although perhaps more forgiving than is warranted.

I don't think Wallis was ever in love with Edward. I think he was unfortunately obsessed with her at an awkward time. if it wasn't her that caused the abdication crisis, it would have been one of his previous mistresses.
Interesting thought from Morton that perhaps if Edward had raised the idea of leaving the line of succession before his father died, they might have remained part of the family in a more official manner.
A weak man, a vicious woman who was trapped by her own actions and his. No wonder they look so unhappy in every video.

I gave Morton's book three stars despite my reservations. It was only too obvious how much he disliked his subject. To me, the author's bias really took away from what had the potential to be a decent and entertaining biography. Instead, it was mostly full of typical gossip and innuendos.

I was first introduced to Wallis Simpson in the movie W.E. and was intrigued about the wonderful, fairy-tale love story of the American and the former king. But wow, what a fanciful tale that was. Yes, I do think the author of this book maybe disliked Wallis to begin with and was a bit biased - and I am quite the optimist, trying to see the best in everyone. However, she seems like she was very out for herself and only concerned about how she was seen and betrayed. She was selfish, cruel, and abusing of her husband. The Duke of Windsor worshiped the ground she walked on just to be put down again and again and again. I feel like he had quite the past to cope with to be so depressed and dependent on companions (even ones before Wallis). I just wonder how they would have fared in today's society where divorce isn't such a faux pas, mental health is appreciated, and where social media is a larger force. All is love.

More fascinating than anticipated.

Well done from a historical and source perspective but a bit cumbersome to read. Wish it was presented as more of a novel and less of a chronicle but that’s just a personal preference!

The book reads like a society column from a newspaper and never abandons that style. So it is a slow book. I am surprised that a famous biographer didn’t choose narration as a form.
The main characters are definitely flawed personalities, to say the least. Wallis is everything her detractors accuse her of—selfish, social climber extraordinaire, manipulative, self-centered, superficial, and materialistic. Edward/David was not fit to be King though his abdication caused more heartache. He was an undeveloped human being—probably with learning and psychological problems. Besides, he seemed to be an unpleasant fellow with poor values, common sense, and ethics.
Bertie was a good king and bravely lead the U.K. through World War 2. Certainly, the stronger branch of the Windsor tree thrived, lead, and survived.

i don't think i have read a biography before where i came away thinking much less of the subject, having learned more about them, but she just seems like...not a great person. mean and bitter and selfish. the book is well-written though, and interesting. there were a lot of little anecdotes that made my jaw drop.

The saddest love story between two pathetic people. I assume the title is ironic. Morton's book is well-researched but I wish he had spent more time on the Nazi connections.