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Virginia B. (Foster, RI)
Life Among the Rich and Famous
"The Woman Before Wallis" is Thelma Morgan, Lady Furness who was the mistress to Edward Prince of Wales for four years. In the recount of her life, I was entertained by the lush descriptions of clothes, furniture, travels and houses of the British Royalty, aristocrats, and Vanderbilts. However, the huge cast of characters was daunting and the reader would need some prior knowledge to keep them straight. In addition, the frequent change of scene and time frame was often confusing. In spite of these drawbacks, I found it enjoyable since I had the seen BBC specials and the "Crown."
Roberta R. (West Bloomfield, MI)
Women Before Wallis
I did enjoy reading the book, but I have some historical background regarding Gloria Vanderbilt (Little Gloria) so much of the storyline was familiar. The book was an "easy" read, and while it might be good for some fiction book clubs, it would probably not be very discussable for a more serious literature book club.
The book would be suitable for anyone who would just like a recreational type read. The storyline is very interesting (as was the actual historical event). The book is probably not suitable for anyone under age of 18, because of reference to drug use, infidelity and the like.
Gina V. (Mesa, AZ)
Entertaining Read
Admittedly, historical fiction is not my favorite genre - I usually prefer books with a little more action/intrigue. That being said, this book did hold my attention throughout. I had heard of Wallis Simpson, but had no idea there was a "woman before Wallis" and really didn't know about the scandal involving the Vanderbilts. Although it was interesting to learn about the scandal, I wasn't entirely sure why it was included in this book. It seemed a bit incongruous, but that could be due to how it was randomly inserted into the chapters about Thelma. I found it a little distracting. None of the characters were
…more particularly likable. They all seemed spoiled, shallow, and self-centered. I did find myself rooting for Thelma, but even she was self-absorbed. All in all, it was an engaging read and a nice diversion in the crazy times we find ourselves in. (less)Woman Before Wallis is a good account of the relationship between David, future King Edward, and Thelma Morgan, twin sister of Gloria Vanderbilt. We get a glimpse of the lives of the rich and famous and see many of their short comings.
The writing style is easy to read and includes many historical details. Most of the characters are well developed and I learned some background about David and his brother Bertie who becomes king. Fun to imagine the early days of the parents of Queen Elizabeth.
The book was interesting to me because I knew about many of the characters but never heard of Thelma. The story evolves
…more documenting how Thelma and David become involved and eventually are distanced. A short coming was not enough detail about their breakup and Wallis' influence. I would have preferred that over the very detailed account of the Vanderbilt custody trial.
Turnbull's first historical fiction novel is a winner and I look forward to more stories of little known historical women from her. (less)The Woman before Wallis was an entertaining, escapist read about a cast of characters who were particularly prominent in the first half of the twentieth century. The majority of these people were neither particularly likeable nor admirable in their behavior, but the story was still readily digestible. I would have liked a more detailed epilogue, but a quick visit to Wikipedia resolved that shortcoming. If you need a vacation from all the problems of today, you might find this book to be a pleasant diversion.
Pam S. (Wellesley, MA)
The sad but fascinating lives of the rich and famous
This book is a must read for anyone fascinated with British royalty and the aristocracy during the period between the two world wars. There are three interwoven stories - that of Lady Thelma Furness who was the mistress of Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), the wild and scandalous life of her twin sister Gloria Vanderbilt, and the New York custody trial over Gloria's daughter "Little Gloria" in 1934. While I found it hard to admire many of these characters, the author brought them to life and has written an unputdownable novel. The custody trial over 10 year old Gloria Vanderbilt was a tragedy for the "
…more poor little rich girl" who overcame her difficult early years to become Gloria Vanderbilt, the socialite, artist and jeans designer. The descriptions of her mother's life on the French Riviera brought to mind Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night. I was so engaged by this book that I immediately read the recent memoir by Gloria Vanderbilt and her son Anderson Cooper. It was so interesting to read her reflections on her early years and lifelong search for love and caring from her mother. (less)If you've ever wondered about David, King Edward VIII prior to Wallis Warfield Simpson, this is the book for you. In The Woman Before Wallis, Bryn Turnbull places you in 1930's England and introduces you to Thelma, Lady Furness.
Thelma, the twin sister of Gloria Vanderbilt, was a Morgan by birth. She eloped at age 17 and had a difficult marriage for 3 years when she was finally divorced. Thelma then went to California where she became involved in motion pictures, albeit not successfully.
Visiting her sister in Paris, she met and fell in love with Duke Furness. She had a comfortable, mostly happy life until she
…more became aware of her husbands many affairs. While she was advised to ignore them, she also found herself being pursued by David, the Prince of Wales.
Turnbull puts you there for every joy, sorrow, passion, and betrayal of Thelma's life. Her history is mostly accurate, the storytelling extremely compelling.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants an inside look at this pre-Wallis time period. (less)This is well-written historical fiction imagining the difficult family history of Thelma, Lady Furness, and her affair with the Prince of Wales. Through a series of sometimes confusing flashbacks, Thelma Morgan remembers the most crucial events of her life, starting with her fateful request of Wallis Simpson to look after the Prince of Wales while Thelma returned to the United States for a family concern. The author portrays Thelma as an interesting, passionate and courageous woman of her time and place. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a bit of romance and royal intrigue.
