This book collects up the drafts written by the Duke of Windsor for his intended (to be published) memoirs. The extracts vary considerably from the version that appeared in 1951 as A King's Story. What comes across in these extracts is the personal writing style of the Duke - he was clearly not a writer but a narrator. As for the key events that most of us would be interested in, i.e. the story of his romance with Mrs Wallis Simpson, and the Abdication, they are both played out in this book and provide a useful context / reference to what has already been written, published, and poured over time and time again.
What is clear to me, reading this splendid book, is that the story lives and relives. It will continue to be told and retold as more and more fresh evidence comes to light through diligent research and of course, release of files held in the National Archives. One day, those that are secured in the Royal Archives and have not seen the light of day, will emerge to spread even more detail across the terrain.
I don't wish to give spoilers here; but, suffice to say this book brings together the drafts of the Duke's memoirs from the files of Charles Murphy (who acted as the Duke's ghost writer) and other sources. Much of what we can read in this book is not new information, but what this book does is place a new and personal emphasis on proceedings - there are more of the Duke's personal feelings and thoughts contained in these extracts that seldom or failed to show in the finished published version of his memoirs. Within these feelings and thoughts, there are additional observations on his courtiers and ministers - observations that have tended to be rather flat and at times, sub-serviant. In the same way as the recently published Chips Channon diaries provide a "chatty" playground of the times, so Edward's drafts contain a lot more "chatty" offerings. What does come across is Edward's undoubted naivety and his interchangable character that hallmarked his latter Prince of Wales period and during his brief time as King. From these extracts, I can now fully appreciate his concern and worry going into his Kingship, and the constant fear that he would trip-up in someway but rest heaviliy upon a popularity with and support of the British people. His misunderstanding of the real challenge - that of leadership as the Monarch - a talisman - a modern King trained to uphold the constitution, is clear in this book. For Edward, this constitution was not as galvanised as it should have been, despite guidance from his parents, government officials such as Churchill, and his private secretaries; and by 1935, it was all too late. In the 1978 drama, Edward and Mrs Simpson, based on the biography by Frances Donaldson, we are given the insight that Freda Dudley Ward tried her hardest to get Edward to conform closer to "Palace" regal expectation (the scene of Edward and Freda driving in the lanes on the day he finds Fort Belvedere is very vivid), but where she tried and ultimately failed, his next set of suitors that ended with Wallis Simpson made no attempt to right his ways. This book perhaps shows us his inner emotional status - Freda Dudley Ward was effectively doomed in her mission but at least came out of the whole association with a little more dignity or respect than others.
Within these extracts, Edward's writing at times is melancholic, especially when referring to his early years and the role of his parents in his life. There is sadness there. Of course, when it comes to the question of a suitable consort, that's where Edward's conduct had already been established in discounting any possible suitors suggested by his parents - the marking of Edward's independence but does perhaps show his tendency to become attracted to strong-willed confident partners (qualities that he clearly felt he lacked and that have been laid to bare in what we already know of Edward).
I am confident this book adds a little more to the important story of Edward VIII, and our understanding of him as a person. Like everything with Edward VIII, there remains loose ends, but this book has gathered up a few more of them and have been presented extremely well here.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
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Top reviews from other countries
Jacques Claude
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Trudy A. Miller
Confusing and boring
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