The Crown in Crisis

Countdown to the Abdication

By: Alexander Larman

Narrated by: Richard Trinder

Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

The thrilling and definitive account of the Abdication Crisis of 1936.

On December 10, 1936, King Edward VIII brought a great international drama to a close when he abdicated, renouncing the throne of the United Kingdom for himself and his heirs. The reason he gave when addressing his subjects was that he could not fulfill his duties without the woman he loved - the notorious American divorcee Wallis Simpson - by his side. His actions scandalized the establishment, who were desperate to avoid an international embarrassment at a time when war seemed imminent. That the King was rumored to have Nazi sympathies only strengthened their determination that he should be forced off the throne, by any means necessary.

Alexander Larman’s The Crown in Crisis will treat listeners to a new, thrilling view of this legendary story. Informed by revelatory archival material never-before-seen, as well as by interviews with many of Edward’s and Wallis’s close friends, Larman creates an hour-by-hour, day-by-day suspenseful narrative that brings listeners up to the point where the microphone is turned on and the king speaks to his subjects. As well as focusing on King Edward and Mrs. Simpson, Larman looks closely at the roles played by those that stood against him: Prime minister Stanley Baldwin, his private secretary Alec Hardinge, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang. Larman also takes the full measure of those who supported him: the great politician Winston Churchill, Machiavellian newspaper owner Lord Beaverbrook, and the brilliant lawyer Walter Monckton.

For the first time in a book about the abdication, listeners will hear an in-depth account of the assassination attempt on Edward’s life and its consequences, a first-person chronicle of Wallis Simpson’s scandalous divorce proceedings, information from the Royal Archives about the government’s worries about Edward’s relationship with Nazi high-command Ribbentrop, and a boots-on-the-ground view of how the British people saw Edward as they watched the drama unfold. You won’t be able to put down The Crown in Crisis, a full panorama of the people and the times surrounding Edward and the woman he loved. 

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

"Fresh chronicle... Mr. Larman brings his cast of characters vividly to life in a fast-paced, lively staging of the drama. It’s as much fun to read as a good political thriller.” (Wall Street Journal)

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2021 Alexander Larman (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Interesting book undermined by narrator

A fascinating account of the political complexities and rivalries at play during the abdication year. Unfortunately the exaggerated accents assumed by the narrator were disrespectful, almost parody. This was particularly (but not only) the case in the obnoxious fake American accent and the North Country accent he assumes. Please dissuade the narrator from similar abuses of the text in any future assignments. He made it hard to keep listening to what was otherwise a very interesting book.

Extremely hard to pay attention to

I had a hard time finishing it. It’s a hard read. I’ve listened to every book that audible offers on the Royal family.

A new & Interesting approach to 1936 Abdication

I don't usually give 5 stars, a book has to be near perfect and overwhelmingly engaging. This book came close!

Extremely well researched and written. This NOT another beating a dead horse book that are mostly all the same. Here, yes, most of the names you've heard, but what is different is how deeply they were involved. Using mainly letters, diaries and a few first hand interviews of the children, whose parents were involved and spoke of the Abdication with them or around them. Nothing is made up and written with very little supposition and conjecture. Piecing together what sounds like a warehouse of documents, seems so daunting and extremely difficult yet remarkable, given the finished product 'The Crown In Crisis'.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Abdication of Edward VIII. Out is not only extremely well written, it is also a welcomed fresh look into this momentous time in history & best of all its not dull! At times I was laughing! Especially the letters and diary notes written by the Duff Coopers during the infamous Narlin cruise, the summer of 1936. Lady Cooper's letters to a friend are hysterical! She's a hoot whenever mentioned!

Again, not your usual Abdication History book! It wasn't dry at all! It is also written by using all kinds of first hand accounts, so much so there was no reason to write something in order to fill in the blanks. Terrific!

The only pet peeve I have is glaring mistakes, especially historical ones. Historical books are also educational and people who read them take what is said as fact. There was only one in this book I feel I must correct: In Chapter 15 he refers to Alice the Duchess of Gloucester as Edward's cousin. She was not his cousin, she was married to his brother Henry, and that makes her his sister-in-law! Ok, now that I got that out of my system. LOL

If The Duke & Dutchess of Windsor are in your wheelhouse of interests, do not pass up this book, you will learn things you never knew. Are they still those 2 self-centered narcissists, that are only out for themselves & to hell with everyone else? Yes, this book doesn't change that, in fact their, and especially his, greed, is really shown here!

Do yourself a favor & don't miss this fresh and interesting approach to an overly told story, you just may learn something new about the year leading up to the Abdication and touches a little on what happens after. All in all Walli saved the monarchy and Great Britain by taking this useless man child, who thank God gave up the throne & thus was never coronated! Whew, dodged that bullet!

This Account Strips Wallis Simpson of any Control over her Life

It’s a well told story - An interesting account very well researched and engaging. My only knock is that a portrays Wallis has somehow incapable of controlling any other events around her. The author can’t get past his understandable dislike of Edward to assign any agency for her actions. It’s a good book on the facts spoiled by a poor, unsupported central thesis.

Excellent Read

Well researched and narrated with a depth of detail that makes it a fascinating read. Thoroughly enjoyed the narration as well.

Very easy to not pay attention

Not going to lie, this book lost my attention pretty quick. Narrator isn’t the best.

very Interesting!

Well written and interesting! Gives such a good explanation of what happened and how it affected the people involved. Excellent narration on this audio recording!

Great read

Excellent read enjoy the context history in the background of the book would recommend it.