The people's king : the true story of the abdication / Susan Williams.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Williams, A. Susan.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Windsor, Edward, Duke of, 1894-1972.

Windsor, Edward.

Windsor, Edward, Duke of, 1894-1972--Abdication, 1936.

Great Britain--Kings and rulers--Biography.

Great Britain.

Kings and rulers.

Great Britain--History--Edward VIII, 1936.

History.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xxii, 293 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Edition:

First Palgrave Macmillan edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.

Summary:

The Story of Edward viii's abdication for the woman he loved was the most celebrated love story of the last century. Susan Williams's The People's King follows the six tense weeks leading up to the abdication. Several months before their wedding, the only people who had heard of Wallis Simpson were those people who belonged to the tiny social circle surrounding the royal family. Press coverage and newsreels were strictly censored. Through contemporary letters and diaries, many never before published, Susan Williams demonstrates the huge popularity of the King and the tragic events that led to his downfall. This is a powerful and moving story of love, devotion to duty and betrayal. It's the story of a charismatic, radical young king who loved his people and was adored in return. It is the story of a man who, but for the plotting of his enemies, might have reigned for his lifetime, whether married to his beloved Wallis or not. It is a story so compelling that almost seventy years after it played itself out on the newspapers and radio waves of the world, it still continues to move and haunt anyone who knows it.

Contents:

1 'Something must be done' 1

2 'My own beloved Wallis' 15

3 'The Spirit of the Age' 37

4 'King to marry Wally' 53

5 'I had declared myself' 69

6 'The Battle for the Throne' 86

7 'The People want their King' 104

8 'Tell us the facts, Mr Baldwin!' 119

9 'Cavaliers and Roundheads' 133

10 'Don't abdicate!' 149

11 'Our cock won't fight' 163

12 'God bless you both' 181

13 'Rat Week' 198

14 'We have had such happiness' 213.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 220-276) and index.

ISBN:

1403963630

OCLC:

52878793