That Woman Wallis Simpson

[coccinelle]

Has any ABer read this book? I was quite looking forward to it (their relationship always held such romanticism) but as time goes on I'm disliking this woman more and more and thinking thank goodness, Edward didn't become king! If you have read this book do you think this describes what they were really like?

[missnemesis]

"She was plain as a pikestaff"
"She certainly wasn't a looker"

Well thank goodness every ABer is an absolute stunner then!

How shallow can you get.

[starone]

Yes friedgreen, I am 86 and I remember it well. It was the main point of interest then - don't forget we didn't have tv or much else for that matter. The British people did not know what was going on for a long time - it was only through people who knew people in America that the news gradually seeped through to us. And just because I was young does not mean I cannot remember. We used to chant ditties about her in the street! I can't think how you got the idea of free love in those days. Certainly wasn't, or perhaps it was in the Royal circles, but it was not the accepted thing. In fact much more strict than nowadays. It was the pill that set women free to do whatever they wanted (I don't disagree with that, women should be able to do whatever they want. I merely state the facts as they were when I was young).

[friedgreentomato]

You were 9 years old when they married - how can you know what went on?

By your own admission things were different then - I can't believe that 9 years and younger that you were in on the 'celeb' gossip - 9 year olds then were not like 9 years olds now!!

[starone]

I was precocious, I could read very well and read the newspapers. Also if you went to the cinema there was always a News item and as that was our main form of entertainment I found out quite a lot from that. Also I listened to what other people said. Little ones were seen and not heard but they could still hear!

[emmie]

the problem with being married twice then was she wouldn't have been allowed to become queen, or consort, or anything, he couldn't marry a divorcee, it wasn't permitted. He knew that and eventually gave up the throne for her. From all that i have read over the years, the Queen Mother never forgave Wallis, because she essentially handed the job to her husband, which he never wanted.

[woofgang]

My Mum met her. She was a seamstress at a place called Lutyens in Baker Street where Mrs Simpson bought her clothes. The Duke used to turn up and drop her off and wait for her outside. She didn't get to talk to her as in conversation because she was very junior but she remembers how polite she was to the junior fitters and other juniors at a time when that wasn't the norm. The House made some of her trousseau and she had samples of all the materials and the bit fro the Daily Mail with photographs of it all but her Mum, my Nan put it out for salvage during the war. Mum joined up and wasn't living at home and my Nan was a bit of a chucker outer.
She said that it was common knowledge in London and discussed in the pubs and shops. They were seen around together and didn't try to hide.

[coccinelle]

Thanks for your answers, sorry I've just read them. As I'm reading on I realise she was getting out of her depth with the Prince and did love her second husband but was flattered by all the jewellery and clothes the Prince bought her. At first, she was sure he'd tire of her but it was too late when she realised he wouldn't. She had quite a sad life really.