The People's King: The True Story of the Abdication

by Susan Williams

Book Overview

The People's Kingfollows the six intense weeks leading up to the abdication of Edward VIII, considered by many to be among the most compelling love stories of the last century. Just six months before... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0713995734
• ISBN13: 9780713995732
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Allen Lane
• Length: 374 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A man of the people

Edward VIII was a flawed man like any leader, but he was far more of a man of the people than any British monarch before or since. The people did indeed adore him, especially war veterans. Edward didn't sail around doing nothing on a ship like his brother, he was a soldier and was in the trenches for a time and visited the front whenever he could. This book is full of examples of his kindness, his manners and generosity to people, as well as his concern for the poor. The previous reveiewer is incorrect saying that his post-abdication years showed no concern for the poor. He did much for the poor and less fortunate while governor of the Bahamas (not Burmuda). I admit I do not understand his fascination with Wallis Simpson, who was keeping a lover on the side while having an affair with Edward. This was discovered by the Metropolitan Police's Special Branch while they had her under surveillence. I've heard all sorts of theories as to why he was so infatuated with her, including Simpson's supposed use of "black magic" to cast a spell on him. Whatever the reason, I can't see it. She was a gold digger and twice divorced and totally unworthy of this man. Edward incurred his parents wrath because he was not playing the monarch game like they thought it should be played. He cared about the common people, the poor, veterans. His father didn't, and neither did his brother. Their allegience was to the rich, the ruling class. Edward had seen war first hand and wanted to avoid it, Baldwin and warmongers like Churchill could not manipulate him as they did the weak and vacillating George VI. Edward would have done all he could have to avoid a war with Germany, a war the Germans didn't want. He was shut out by his brother and family after the abidication and after the war (his brother forbid any member of the royal family from attending his wedding!), so to say that Edward was just some playboy that didn't care about anything but himself is absurd. The best thing that could have happened to Britain is if Edward had realized his real popularity with the people, stood his ground, and forced that pompous tool of the rich, Baldwin, to fish or cut bait. Resign the government or shut up and mind his own business. The world is a worse place because he didn't. To me Edward was a good man, and in politics good men don't fare well.