That Woman

The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor

By: Anne Sebba

Narrated by: Samantha Bond

Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is the first full-scale biography of Wallis Simpson to be written by a woman, exploring the mind of one of the most glamorous and reviled figures of the 20th century, a character who figured prominently in the blockbuster film The King’s Speech.

This is the story of the American divorcée notorious for allegedly seducing a British king off his throne. "That woman", so called by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was born Bessie Wallis Warfield in 1896 in Baltimore. Neither beautiful nor brilliant, she endured an impoverished childhood, which fostered in her a burning desire to rise above her circumstances.

Acclaimed biographer Anne Sebba offers an eye-opening account of one of the most talked about women of her generation. It explores the obsessive nature of Simpson’s relationship with Prince Edward, the suggestion that she may have had a disorder of sexual development, and new evidence showing she may never have wanted to marry Edward at all. Since her death, Simpson has become a symbol of female empowerment as well as a style icon. But her psychology remains an enigma.

Drawing from interviews and newly discovered letters, That Woman shines a light on this captivating and complex figure, an object of fascination who has only grown more compelling with the years.

©2011 Anne Sebba (P)2012 Orion Publishing Group Ltd

Too much speculation

Any additional comments?

This book engages in too much speculation for my taste. Every old rumor is dished out in this book, and the author goes into detail about the rumors that Wallis was sexually deformed. I was very disappointed that the author neglected to fully develop the idea that strong women in the 30's were often said to be 'too male' and not timid enough. Wallis was strong, and at this time that was a threat to male society. Instead the author goes down the road of sexual deformity. Very disappointed.

Enlightening

I have long been fascinated by the story of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. This book is chock full of quotes and diary entries in order to support the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator’s skill of speaking with a southern US accent while quoting Wallis. Very entertaining and informative.

A Thorough Investigation

This book is a very comprehensive investigation of the life of Wallis Simpson, a dark & mysterious person (in my opinion) after hearing all of the detail in this book. The details can be somewhat numbing at times, but is an interesting look into the lives of two very flawed and ultimately selfish people who were in love with the idea of glamour & royalty itself!

Solid Bio

This is a good biography that makes every effort to be balanced in telling This amazing story. I'm not sure it really gives the inner emotions and motives if the Windsors but that might not be possible when you have situation like this one, involving two very private people like the Wkndsors. Excellent narration!

A new take on an old story

Anne Sebba's book on the Duchess of Windsor was interesting and full of detail. Her speculation on Wallis' physical-sexual condition while seeming a little speculative provided a possible explanation of how a thrice-married woman in an era of little or no contraception never had a child and often struck observers as having an almost masculine persona. The book also provided some real insight into her two prior husbands who often seem shadowy figures in most other accounts.
The narration was very well done.

Outstanding New Take on Old Scandal

Anne Sebba researches in depth and writes vividly. The abdication of King Edward VIII so he could marry US divorcee Wallace Simpson is a story that has birthed multiple books, movies, TV shows, and for all I know songs. Anne Sebba discovered previously unknown letters written by Wallace and her just-divorced husband Mr. Simpson to each other and to the former king after his abdication that prove that she had not wanted to marry the king and had opposed abdication. Shock indeed! Wallace has been portrayed almost universally as a greedy, ambitious witch who wrecked a reign by stupidly thinking she could be Queen of England. The tabloids - still so vitriolic - seemed for the rest of Wallace's life to dog her every step. Their misogyny and implicit anti-American snobbery - so destructively in play now against Meghan Markle - burned fiercely until Wallace's death. Lots of interesting and new details about her life in totality are included in this book. It depicts the subject more clearly than any other I've read to date. Samantha Bond narrates brilliantly.

New perspective of Wallis

The book opens with the desire to make Wallis more human. I suppose it did that. While I know much more about her now, there is still something unlikeable about her behavior as well as Edward’s. Well researched book. Wonderful narration.

Oh Wallis - You deserved better

This is the book Wallis deserved. She really has been grossly mischaracterized by history and the Queen Mother - who everyone know nows was anything but all powder and porcelain.

Find the important thing

My gosh - no wonder Wallis Warfield Simpson created such a stir! Her weight, clothes, and not being HRH are the focus of her life. She was in a position where she could of started great changes and done so much but no. Previously I felt she just was in the right place at the right time now I know she made sure she was there, misjudged her opponents and could not accept the altered (to her mind) reality. Grow up Wallis! If you are interested in this woman read That Woman!

So Excellent

Much more than I expected. I was completely captivated by Wallis and her surroundings; her choices and the telling of her story.