King Edward VIII: A Life
by Philip Ziegler
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Book Summary Information
Author: Philip ZieglerEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1992-01-13
ISBN: 0345375637
Number of pages: 620
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780345375636
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of King Edward VIII: A Life
Book Review: Portrait of a Flawed and Complex Man
Summary: 4 Stars
The only great-grandchild ever born as the direct heir of the reigning British Monarch, Prince Edward of York (known as David) lived under constant pressure and scrutiny from the time he was a little boy. A bright and engaging child, he seemed to never live up to the demands of his father, who despite having had a carefree and relaxed childhood, was a stern and sometimes cruel parent, driving a permanent wedge between him and his eldest son. David feared his father, and preferred spending time with his indulgent grandparents, the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra), or his mother, who unlike his father, was affectionate with her son.
David grew up a complex man. He was a humanitarian who cared about the plight of the poor, a good speaker, a loving son, husband, and brother, and was intensely loyal to his friends, but had the ability to hold grudges for a lifetime. He hated school, and was only moderately educated as best. He deeply felt the plight of the poor and the veterans of World War One, always doing his utmost to try and advance their causes. He was also reactionary, hating what he saw as the destruction of the Victorian society he had grown up in. He wanted to do his best for his country, but abdicated the throne as World War Two loomed over Europe and constantly badgered the government over trivial matters during the depths of the war. He married for love, but never understood his family's hatred and confusion after he shirked what had been his duty since the day he was born.
One gets the impression that David was at his height during his years as the Prince of Wales, and fell after the abdication. Without a constant circuit of speeches, meetings, and parties, he didn't know what to do with himself. Though he voluntarily abdicated his Kingship, he seemed to move more towards his flaws and away from the bright, caring man who had captured the hearts of the world and it's heartbreaking to read about how David dissolves into a pathetic figure, clinging to his wife for everything.
The book also seems to lose itself after David becomes Edward VIII, and turns into a depressing mass of wistfulness for the young man who seemed to have such a wonderful future ahead of him and then sacrificed it all for a woman most saw as a shrew. Wallis herself is dealt with fairly, but the devastation of poor David is too much for Ziegler, who tries his best to make the argument that after his abdication, the Duke of Windsor was a helpful aid to the British government, despite much evidence to the contrary. It is tragic to read about how hard the Duke worked in the Bahamas, and think that if he had not removed himself from his post, that talent would have been focused on the entire British Empire. The book would have been better if it had ended at the abdication, sparing the reader and the author the pain of the last 36 years of Edward's life.
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