First published 2015
Andrew Morton chronicles the secret wartime activities of Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, and his wife Wallis Simpson. The book examines their dangerous flirtation with Nazi Germany during World War II. Morton documents a bizarre German plot to reinstall Edward as a puppet monarch following a planned invasion of Britain. He reveals how Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and King George VI worked to suppress evidence of Edward's treasonous correspondence with Hitler's regime. The narrative follows diplomatic efforts to contain the scandal while Edward and Wallis lived in exile. Morton draws from FBI files, German archives, Russian documents, and personal letters from Churchill, Eisenhower, and the Windsors themselves. The book exposes the cover-up operation ordered by King George VI to retrieve compromising documents. It details the roles of Soviet spies and the conflicts among British and American officials over how to handle the crisis. Morton reveals the full extent of the alleged relationship between Simpson and German officials, painting a picture of wartime intrigue that threatened the British monarchy's credibility during its darkest hour.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, military-history, espionage, political-thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, political-intrigue, secrets
Setting: Britain, Germany, United Kingdom
Period: World War II
370 pages · Kindle Edition · Grand Central Publishing