The Duchess: From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Governess

Reviews

Nicola in South Yorkshire

Looking back at these things really make your think about where we are now in life and how things have changed, or have not as it could seem. Her refreshing honesty catches the Prince's eye and Wallis loves that, but she's a married woman and she knows that eventually the Prince will find himself a suitable wife, one who isn't once or even twice divorced. We all know about Wallis Simpson. It's now thought that Wallis wasn't the big bad wolf after all and that David, as Edward VIII was known, wanted a way out of taking the crown, having always known he wasn't King material.

Ceri

Knowing the way this story was going to pan out made the reading of it feel quite bittersweet. I went into this book pretty blind as to background and this didn't effect how I felt about the book, I feel it gives you all the knowledge you need. I loved learning all about Wallis, Ernest and Edward's relationship. In the meantime, I recommend The Duchess for those who enjoy historical fiction based around real events.

She was the woman, hated by everyone, who manipulated King Edward VIII into giving up the throne. It all felt so authentic, whether based on known fact or imagined conversations and events.

She falls in with the Prince of Wales' crowd and I loved her interactions with Cecil Beaton, Coco Chanel and various members of the Royal Family. I have never really read about the royal family not historical books because I wasn't really sure it was something that would interest me. The Duchess takes us from 1928, when Wallis and her new husband, Ernest Simpson, arrive in England, right up to 1936, the year of the abdication. Wendy Holden's fictionalised account of real life events gives us an alternative historical narrative.

I am definitely going to be looking into getting The Governess and continuing on the collection 😍 She longs for excitement but this is a tale of caution and being careful what you wish for. Wendy Holden must have done a lot of research for this book and it shows. But what if what we were always led to believe wasn't true?