No matter what is happening in the British royal family, Edward VII and Wallis Simpson seem to come up a lot. And usually not in a favourable way, unfortunately. So, I was quite excited to see a younger, pre-Wallis Edward, in fiction! I’ve chatted about the rise of royal-ish fiction, but this is bonafide royal fiction, and how lovely it is. Today I’m chatting about why you need to read The Woman Before Wallis!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Woman Before Wallis, Bryn Turnbull
In the summer of 1926, when Thelma Morgan marries Viscount Duke Furness after a whirlwind romance, she’s immersed in a gilded world of extraordinary wealth and privilege. For Thelma, the daughter of an American diplomat, her new life as a member of the British aristocracy is like a fairy tale—even more so when her husband introduces her to Edward, Prince of Wales.
In a twist of fate, her marriage to Duke leads her to fall headlong into a love affair with Edward. But happiness is fleeting, and their love is threatened when Thelma’s sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, becomes embroiled in a scandal with far-reaching implications. As Thelma sails to New York to support Gloria, she leaves Edward in the hands of her trusted friend Wallis, never imagining the consequences that will follow.
Bryn Turnbull takes readers from the raucous glamour of the Paris Ritz and the French Riviera to the quiet, private corners of St. James’s Palace in this sweeping story of love, loyalty and betrayal.
Why You Should Read This…
I have to say, this is probably one of my favourite “royal-ish fiction” books! I don’t know much about Edward VIII and his partners, or the Vanderbilts, but I found their world fascinating. Turnbull does a fantastic job of building the world and bringing in these characters that were real people. I appreciated that she brought in more royals- most of these “royal-ish fiction” books only feature a few pages of the royal in question, but you spend quite a bit of time with the Prince of Wales. (Not to mention Bertie, Elizabeth, and George.) A wonderfully written book, I look forward to seeing what she does next!
Looking for more royal fiction? You can find my ever-growing list here!
Have you read The Woman Before Wallis?
Cheers,
The Historian
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