Traitor King

The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor

By: Andrew Lownie

Narrated by: Andrew Lownie

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

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 divorcee. Their courtship has been dogged by controversy and scandal, but with Edward's abdication, they can live happily ever after.

But do they? 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 reveling 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

©2022 Andrew Lownie (P)2022 Tantor

Finally

The abdication crisis is fascinating, but what happened next is equally fascinating. I have never been under the illusion that either of them were good people. They were nonetheless held together by something far larger than themselves. The years after the abdication were complex, and more than a bit sad. My heart broke for those they came in contact with. Great book.

Gives a lot of views

Very good book but the narrator voice is a little too soft. Made it hard to hear on an MP3.

Good

It took me a while to get into this book. Once it gets going , it's an interesting account. History repeats itself. Having finished and googled photos....Wallis Simpson has either reincarnated or there's a bit of a good old fashioned possession going on. Her eyes and Meagan Markles have the exact same shallow yet deceitful look. The narrator was just okay.

Very interesting account

I am very interested in the Royals and their history. While this couple is unlikeable, selfish, narcissistic, there is a little part of them that is kind of sad. Sad existence and the Duke comes off as pretty pitiful and clearly obsessed with someone who didn’t love him. History would be very different if he had not given up the throne.

traitor King

This is my third book concerning Edward the 8 th. This one gave more detailed information than the other two. I wondered about how the info about his German connection and how It was accepted. I like his style of writing and his voice as he reads his book.

Brilliant

Well documented and flows well. Very enjoyable! Use this as good introduction to Britain’s response to growing threats by Germany in 1930s with history classes I teach.

Well done

Lots of research to back up his facts. What a mess they made of their shallow lives I enjoyed the narration as well

Thought-provoking!

I've read a number of books and articles about this Duke and Duchess, and for the most part, agree with this author's analysis of them. I'm not certain Edward's actions would be to such a level to constitute treason, but they certainly were the beginning of such.
Very well-written book, good narration--a good book for anyone interested in this aspect of 20th century history and/or the English royal family.

A very physically descriptive story, I could see many of the details in my mind.

I liked the way the story was laid out. You could see the world that they surrounded themselves with. The author presented everything in as balanced a manner as possible. One can see their behavior while still being able to recognize the way they viewed themselves and their lives. Both sympathetic and unblinking in view.

Fabulous

A raw, well researched account of two wasted lives. Two narcissistic beings of low intelligence and gluttonous appetites for the finer things in life were a waste of the breeding and entitlements that were bestowed on them by birth. Their antisemitism and sadistic natures made them perfect for each other. The greatest gift they gave the world was the abdication which allowed King George and then Elizabeth to be perfect rulers who actually saved the monarchy.