Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor, Paperback

As the history of the House of Windsor increasing comes under scrutiny, here is the story of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's glittering lives after Edward VIII abdicated the throne--lives that were riddled with treachery and betrayal. A Town & Country "Must Read Book" December 11, 1936. The King of England, Edward VIII, has given up his crown, foregoing his duty for the love of Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée. Their courtship has been dogged by controversy and scandal, but with Edward's abdication, they can live happily ever after. But do they? Beginning this astonishing dual biography at the moment that most biographers turn away, bestselling historian Andrew Lownie reveals the dramatic lives of the Windsors post-abdication. This is a story of a royal shut out by his family and forced into exile; of the Nazi attempts to recruit the duke to their cause; and of why the duke, as Governor of the Bahamas, tried to shut down the investigation into the murder of a close friend. It is a story of a couple obsessed with their status, financially exploiting their position, all the while manipulating the media to portray themselves as victims. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were, in their day, the most glamorous exiles in the world, flitting from sumptuously appointed mansions in the south of France to luxurious residences in Palm Beach. But they were spoiled, selfish people, obsessed with their image, and revelling in adulterous affairs. Drawing upon previously unexplored archives, Lownie shows in dramatic fashion how their glittering world was riddled with treachery and betrayal--and why the royal family never forgave the duke for choosing love over duty.

Andrew Lownie was educated at Asheville School, North Carolina, and the universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh, where he took his doctorate. He was part of the six man team who set up the Spy Museum in Washington, DC, and he sits on the Advisory Committee of Biographers International Organization. He is the author of Stalin's Englishman (St Martin's Press) and The Mountbattens (Pegasus Books) and is a reviewer for the Wall Street Journal.Book specifications:

• Dimensions: 226 x 150
• Author: Andrew Lownie
• Cover type: Paperback
• Publishing Year: 2022
• Publishing Month: 11
• Pages: 432
• Language: English
• Publisher: Pegasus Books
• Weight: 522 g