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There are currently 45 member reviews
for The Woman Before Wallis
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Marge
More to This Story Than You Think
I was familiar with Thelma Morgan's story before, so, I was surprised to find there was more depth to it than I had thought there would be. But she was a woman of her times.
She was a far more caring step-mother to the two children of her second husband, Marmaduke Furness, than I would have supposed. Her only child with Lord Furness was Anthony and he was largely raised by nursery servants in the tradition of the day.
She was fiercely loyal to her twin sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, Anderson Cooper's grandmother. It was this loyalty that contributed to her failed relationship with "David." She became the mistress to the Prince of Wales while married to Lord Furness but only after her husband had taken a mistress indiscreetly before this. He left her emotionally before she left him. The same thing happened with the Prince and this left the door open to Wallis.
For years, I have wondered what women saw in the Prince of Wales. He often comes across as a needy, self-centered, childish immature man with too much money. His parents didn't fill the hole in his emotions that his married mistresses did. In the end, it was a good thing he did not become King. There might not have been a kingdom for anyone to inherit
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Rita I. (Saddle River, NJ)
Couldn't put the book down!
You most likely know about the scandal involving King Edward and Wallis Simpson but probably do not know anything about the woman before Wallis. This book follows the story of Thelma, Lady Furness and her affair with the then Prince. Thelma was the sister of Gloria Vanderbilt (senior); the designer Gloria Vanderbilt's aunt. The affair was quite intense and lasted for several years. It was amazing to me to read about the exploits, affairs (that everyone turned a blind eye to) and lack of parenting done by the upper class and aristocracy. Affairs were an accepted thing that no one questioned (except if you were an heir to the throne) and children were basically handed off to the nanny to raise. I wonder if Thelma had not stayed in the US so long to lend support to her sister during her trial, if history may have been a little different. My only complaint about the book is that I wish the author would have spent a little more time going into what happened between the King, Wallis and Thelma when she returned to England. I did love the book and would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction and the royals!
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DM Sharp Bloomington, Indiana
The Woman Before Wallis
This was a really fun read. I'm fascinated by the Royal family and the Vanderbilts. I love all the dishy intrigue, scandal & secrets and this book is packed full of it all.
I'd never heard of Thelma, but I'd read about Gloria and little Gloria. Of course, I was familiar David & Wallis. What a interesting time to live among the rich, royal and infamous. I'm rather happy to just read about it and not live it.
I highly recommend this historical fiction, it was well researched and quite compelling to read.
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Miriam B. (Lakewood Ranch, FL)
The Woman Before Wallis and more about the Royals
I love historical novels so I was thrilled to receive The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull. I really enjoyed this book and I liked the main character, Thelma, Lady Furness. She led such an interesting life and I was intrigued to find out where her choices would lead her. I was slightly disappointed that there was not enough written about Wallis and her stunning betrayal of Thelma in taking up with David, the Prince of Wales. The Prince comes off as a playboy who would not have made a good king.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who would like a good read about the Royals!
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Laura C. (Woodworth, LA)
A royal page turner
For lovers of historical fiction and avid followers of British royalty (yes, me on both counts), The Woman before Wallis does not disappoint. With some similarities to the recent courtship of American divorcée Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the story of Thelma Morgan's marriage into British aristocracy and the often difficult adjustments expected of her is a page turner that is hard to put down. Add to that the very public, tabloid worthy problems of her famous twin sister, Gloria Vanderbilt, and The Woman before Wallis is a fascinating romp in high society, British and American, in the 1920s and 30s. While most people know the love story of Wallis Warfield Simpson and Edward, Prince of Wales, many readers, myself included, may have little prior knowledge of the very influential woman in Edward's life before Wallis. This novel is beautifully written, superbly researched, an immensely satisfying 400 pages and should be a big hit with book clubs. And for what's it's worth, the cover art is just beautiful and perfect for this story!
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Kathleen W. (New Brighton,, MN)
Totally enjoyable!
I just loved reading this book! Let me tell you why. (Full disclosure: I am a fervent Anglophile.)
Most of all, and to the best of my knowledge, this book appears to be built on historical accuracy. I have read many of the books cited as used by the author and her distillation of content is masterful. This is crucial to me. I am often wary of historical fiction generally because liberties are taken with the historical record...not here, my friend. I am impressed because:
First, Bryn Turnbull paints a vivid picture of the power and pathos of the rich elite on both sides of the ocean. Her rendition adequately reflects the culture of the 20's and 30's in the American and English world of fame and privilege.
Second, Turnbull plays very fairly with portraits of specific players: the Vanderbilts, Mom, Thelma and sibling Morgans, Marmaduke Furness, Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII. She plays no favorites.
Third, the book transitions very effectively back and forth between the times and these people's stories. The reader is led to various kinds of information that steadily build the dramatic effect.
Fourth, my long held question of just who Thelma Morgan Furness was in the Wallis Simpson/David Windsor drama was given a totally fleshed out answer. I now understand the various perspectives of the needs and wants of the main characters. Mission accomplished!
The questions for book clubs provided at the end should create a lively discussion among readers of like minds.
At 418 pages, I finished this book in 3 days. So fun! I now have the Thelma Furness puzzle piece in place and can go on to read a further cited book about Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper to further my knowledge of these people and these times. A book that gives direction to other books. How great is that?
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Carol S. (Mt. Juliet, TN)
The Woman Before Wallis
Bryn Turnbull has focused her first novel, a work of historical fiction, on the life of a little known American divorcee, Thelma Morgan, who was the sister of Gloria Vanderbilt, the aunt of her sister's only child, the wife of Viscount Duke Furness and the mistress of Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (called David by his friends). In Thelma's relationships with all of these characters, she is propelled into a world of glitz, glamour and privilege enjoyed only by those on the top rung of British and American aristocracy.
A look behind the scenes, provided in this well-researched and very readable novel, gives the observer a snapshot of shallow relationships, casual attitudes toward marriage, absentee roles of parents and a headlong rush to align with the highest bidder. While all these characters were perfect societal representations in their privileged world of the 1920s and 1930s on both sides of the Atlantic, the result of choices by Thelma and others missed the mark of the happiness and security they all sought. Even the Prince of Wales with his decision to abdicate from the British throne to marry Wallis Simpson was banished from his country and family. I found little to admire in the lives of the rich and famous during this time period, but enjoyed vicariously the places and people circulating in their world.
Ms. Turnbull's epilogue was a thorough summary of the events and people she introduced in her novel. I was very curious to hear "what happened in the end". I found my questions answered adequately, adding even more interesting details to my reading.
I highly recommend this novel of historical fiction. It will fill in gaps with compelling family drama and world events in British and American society before World War II.
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