The Duchess of Windsor (Mosley biography)


The Duchess of Windsor is a 1980 biography of Wallis, Duchess of Windsor by Diana Mosley. The book was commissioned by Lord Longford and published by Sidgwick & Jackson and again by Gibson Square in 2003. In Paris, Mosley and her husband Oswald Mosley were long-term neighbours and friends of Wallis, Duchess of Windsor and Edward VIII. On 26 June 1980, she was interviewed by Russell Harty on the BBC to discuss the project. The earlier edition sold 23, 000 copies according to Mosley's biographer, Jan Dalley.

Synopsis

The American divorcée attracted media attention when she married Edward VIII of the United Kingdom. Due to the divisive political issue of the proposed marriage, the king was forced to abdicate the throne in order to pursue marriage with Simpson. The author was a confidante and neighbour of the Duchess.

Later editions

In the revised 2003 edition, Mosley addresses latest allegations of secret service reports about the Windsors' conduct during the war and the abdication.
Simpson returned to the public consciousness with the release of the biopic W.E. in 2012. Mosley's biography was re-released in 2012 and an extract was published by the Daily Express.

Contents

The book has been published in both paperback and hardback and also features several illustrations.
Index