Wallis Simpson was one of the most notorious women of the 20th century. She is best known for convincing Edward VIII to give up his crown in order to marry her. However, in the latest biography of Wallis Simpson, Anna Pasternak sheds a different light on this enigmatic duchess. The Duchess of Windsor is largely portrayed as a victim and pawn of Edward VIII. The American Duchess tells the story of a woman locked in an unhappy marriage that was not of her own making and one that she could not escape from.

I have read a few biographies of Wallis Simpson, the most recent by Andrew Morton and Anne Sebba, and have found Wallis to be very unlikable. This latest biography proves to me to be the most sympathetic biography of her, and it is clear that the biography dearly loves her and tries to justify her actions. The American Duchess does not portray the Duchess of Windsor as an ambitious woman that wanted to be Queen of England. Instead, the biography depicts Wallis as a reluctant woman who did not want to receive Edward VIII’s advances. She loved her second husband, Ernest Simpson and did not want to divorce him until Edward VIII’s pursuit of her forced her to have no choice. The American Duchess also tells us that Edward VIII’s abdication was a manipulative way to get Wallis to marry him because after he let go of his crown, Wallis had no choice but to marry Edward. Throughout the biography, Edward VIII is shown as a cunning, manipulative, and obsessive prince who is used to getting everything he wants. Wallis Simpson is unfortunately nothing more than his unwilling pawn.

Overall, I thought this biography did not really do justice to Wallis Simpson. I thought the real Duchess of Windsor was more complex than what was shown in this biography. I think Wallis was more in control of her own life than what this biographer would have us to believe. By trying to defend Wallis’s every action, I felt that it diminished her character because Wallis Simpson was a larger than life figure. I believe that she was ambitious and craved for wealth and power. The American Duchess may bring curiosity to fans of royalty that would want a different perspective of the Duchess of Windsor, but for those that want a detailed and balanced biography, I suggest that they skip this and look elsewhere.

Great introduction to a part of history I am not too familiar with.
This is my first read re: Wallis Simpson though not unfamiliar with who she is as I've heard of other stories.
An interesting, well researched book. Sympathizes with Wallis. Makes me want to read more on this subject.

The title for this book could not be more appropriate. I read a work of fiction last year that was about Wallis's best friend. The story did cover much of what, at the time, I thought was the story. The Crown, on Netflix, briefly touches on this as well, but we're made to believe Wallis is the villain in both. I felt that this book was well researched and provided a nice alternative to what we've always been told.

If you're obsessed (how could you not be?!) with The Crown and all things British Royal Family, pick this one up immediately!!

I gave this book a 5 out of 5 star review. It was an enjoyable and I would recommend. to others. Generously provided to me through NetGalley

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I am embarrassed to admit that I did not know who Wallis Simpson was until I read the synopsis of this book. This led me to do a Google search, which in-turn made me absolutely long to learn more of her. And thanks to Anna Pasternak, I have been able to do just that. The author has a superb way of putting words to paper, stringing together sentences that pull the reader into the narrative. Wallis Simpson was fleshed out beautifully right in front of me, permanently etching herself onto my heart and into my memory. I may have finished this incredible book, but I have not walked away from Ms. Simpson. Bravo, Anna Pasternak! A definite recommend!

A couple of months ago I listened to a great History Chicks podcast about Wallis Simpson that really piqued my interest, although I’ve always been on Team George VI, myself. One of the History Chicks’ great strengths is that — although always very thorough — they are never catty about their subjects, always sympathetic and empathetic. So, when NetGalley offered me an opportunity to read an ARC copy and review this bio, I was very eager to do so. The first thing to know about this book is that it is in no way, shape, or form an unbiased account. Pasternak is unabashedly Team Wallis & David from the very first page. This put me in the unusual position of mentally ‘answering back’ when Pasternak threw softballs at the duo. Wallis or David would do something rotten, then Pasternak would spend a couple sentences explaining exactly why they did it — because Wallis was under such a terrible strain, or because David just loved Wallis so darned much. I’m obviously not as empathetic or sympathetic as the History Chicks — I found Wallis & David to be a rather unlikeable pair. Pasternak conveys enough of their personalities to convince me why people who knew them really liked them. And she certainly managed to put to bed most of the really scurrilous rumors (which I never really believed anyway). But they just weren’t estimable people, no matter how she tried to spin them. Charm is not the same as goodness. Wallis & David were charming, not good. They were self centered and greedy and, when given the chance to be useful, they almost always chose not to be. All that said, it was a heck of a fun, dishy read and I really enjoyed it. I’d certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this sort of thing.

I have been absolutely fascinated with Wallis Simpson from the first time that I heard of her. I've read all the books and watched every movie I could find about her and Edward, the Prince of Wales. I was so intrigued that a King would give up his throne for an American divorcee, who was not particularly attractive. As I read this book, it contains so much more than what we have been told. The drama of the relationship and their life is explained in detail. I believed he truly loved her. Giving up the crown was a duty, he felt he owed and was not given up lightly.
After this happened, life wasn't one big party for them as they lived in exile a great deal of the time. I was honored to be able to read this book from Net Galley and Atria Publishing for a honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Ms. Pasternak’s biography of the Duchess of Windsor is an excellent read. If you aren’t acquainted with Wallis, this book is an excellent place to start. Ms. Pasternak has thrown away the rumors and slander that dogged Wallis since the Duke gave up his throne for her in 1936. Instead, she paints a realistic portrait of a woman who was intelligent, kind, and dignified throughout the Abdication crisis and beyond. Ms. Pasternak interviewed people who actually knew the Windsors, which was a real treat. So many other books repeat the same tired nonsense that everyone “knows” but no one has actually proved.

Even if you’ve read everything else about Wallis, I still recommend this book. Ms. Pasternak gives us a well rounded portrait of a woman who, even when she was vilified and ostracized by society, behaved in a dignified and classy manner. This is the kind of biography Wallis Warfield deserves.

I have read a lot of books about Wallace Simpson, but this one was very good. There are so many conflicting stories about who she was or what she was, and reading this book I got ,a better grasp of who she was as a woman in love with a King. I at times, felt sorry for both of them because they really were cast aside at a time when divorce was not looked on with much favor. A very insightful book.

#NetGalley This was a very well researched and impressive book about Wallis Simpson and the former King Edward VIII. I am not exactly sure it was a new history, because most of the facts are known, but probably a somewhat different slant. However you present their affair, marriage, and life together it remains a tragedy and not happy reading.

It was quite comprehensive, perhaps too much so, and offered perhaps new evidence for the rift between the Prince and former king and his brothers. Financial insecurity, the fact that "David's brother did not want to be King and the antipathy of King George's wife led to a lifetime estrangement.

The book was very well done and painstakingly researched. I enjoyed the earlier chapters of Wallis' life prior to coming to England the best. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

An insightful, vivid, and thoroughly researched portrait of the fascinating woman who brought down an English king

This book outlines the romance and lives of Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson. It paints Wallis not as a gold digging American divorcee, but a woman trapped by Edward's passion and inability to let her go. It shows Edward as a passionate, honorable, and stubborn man as he fought his entire life to have Wallis recognized by the royal family.

I thought this was an interesting and well written book. It depicted Edward and Wallis as real people, rather than the one-dimensional picture you normally get of royalty. It seemed to be well researched, and felt as if the author really knew the characters. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

I wish I could give this book a better review because the author has gone to a great deal of trouble to research the period. I am hovering right now between a 2 star and a 3 star and decided on a 2 star which is a shame, because if there had been a decent editor, maybe all of this research wouldn't have gone to waste.

There are several main problems with this book.

1. It needs to be cut in half. There really is not enough information on Wallis Simpson to warrant a huge tome like this. So, what happens is that the main portions of the book rest on British History of the period. While this is interesting, it is rarely a book about Wallis
2. The author makes the mistake of thinking if she gets a quote from somebody, she has to use it. There are so many quotes that really have no importance whatsoever. She needs to really take a hard look at what she is inserting and put in quotes that really add something to the book, not just for the sake of showing that you have done a ton of research,
3. Then the amount of trivia in this book is overwhelming, like detailed travel plans and she documents just about every dinner party they had just because she has a source that had a comment on it that she could quote.
4. The author really has a bias for Wallis and is constantly commenting on her looks, her hairstyles (and her hairdresser) and her clothes and jewelry. She quotes Elsa Maxwell many times who was a syncophant "hanger-oner" of society ladies and gentlemen.
5.. I don't know how many times the author rationaizes Wallis's superficial style of life by quoting her friends and her own letters. Guess what! Actions speak louder than words and Wallis and the Duke led a perfectly frivolous life when they could have used their time on earth for something useful