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Du Bois and his Rivals
by Raymond WoltersAlthough focusing primarily on W. E. B. Du Bois, this book gives biagraphical information and criticisms of a few Civil Rights leaders, including Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey. It describes the similarities and differences between these men's views.
The Du Mauriers (Vmc Ser. #662)
by Daphne Du MaurierFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REBECCAWhen Daphne du Maurier wrote this book she was only thirty years old and had already established herself both as a biographer, with the acclaimed Gerald: A Portrait, and as a novelist. Here, she further explores her fascinating family history.The Du Mauriers was written during a vintage period of her career, between two of her best-loved novels: Jamaica Inn and Rebecca.Her aim was to write her family biography 'so that it reads like a novel' and it was due to du Maurier's remarkable imaginative gifts that she was able to breathe life into the characters and depict with affection and wit the relatives she never knew, including her grandfather, the famous Victorian artist and Punch cartoonist - and creator of Trilby.'Miss du Maurier creates on the grand scale; she runs through the generations, giving her family unity and reality . . . a rich vein of humour and satire . . . observation, sympathy, courage, a sense of the romantic, are here' Observer
The Du Mauriers (Virago Modern Classics #123)
by Daphne Du MaurierFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REBECCAWhen Daphne du Maurier wrote this book she was only thirty years old and had already established herself both as a biographer, with the acclaimed Gerald: A Portrait, and as a novelist. Here, she further explores her fascinating family history.The Du Mauriers was written during a vintage period of her career, between two of her best-loved novels: Jamaica Inn and Rebecca.Her aim was to write her family biography 'so that it reads like a novel' and it was due to du Maurier's remarkable imaginative gifts that she was able to breathe life into the characters and depict with affection and wit the relatives she never knew, including her grandfather, the famous Victorian artist and Punch cartoonist - and creator of Trilby.'Miss du Maurier creates on the grand scale; she runs through the generations, giving her family unity and reality . . . a rich vein of humour and satire . . . observation, sympathy, courage, a sense of the romantic, are here' Observer
The du Mauriers
by Daphne Du Maurier"Daphne du Maurier creates on the grand scale; she runs through the generations, giving her family unity and reality . . . a rich vein of humor and satire . . . observation, sympathy, courage, a sense of the romantic, are here." --The ObserverWhen Daphne du Maurier wrote The du Mauriers she was only thirty years old and had already established herself as both a biographer and a novelist. She wrote this epic biography during a vintage period in her career, between two of her best-loved novels: Jamaica Inn and Rebecca. Her aim was to write the story of her family 'so that it reads like a novel.' Spanning nearly three quarters of a century, The du Mauriers is a saga of artists and speculators, courtesans and military men. From England to Paris and back again, their fortunes varied as wildly as their ambitions. An extraordinary family of writers, artists and actors they are...The du Mauriers.
Du Pont Dynasty: Behind the Nylon Curtain (Forbidden Bookshelf #6)
by Gerard ColbyAward-winning journalist Gerard Colby takes readers behind the scenes of one of America&’s most powerful and enduring corporations; now with a new introduction by the author Their name is everywhere. America&’s wealthiest industrial family by far and a vast financial power, the Du Ponts, from their mansions in northern Delaware&’s &“Chateau Country,&” have long been leaders in the relentless drive to turn the United States into a plutocracy. The Du Pont story in this country began in 1800. Éleuthère Irénée du Pont, official keeper of the gunpowder of corrupt King Louis XVI, fled from revolutionary France to America. Two years later he founded the gunpowder company that called itself &“America&’s armorer&”—and that President Wilson&’s secretary of war called a &“species of outlaws&” for war profiteering. Du Pont Dynasty introduces many colorful characters, including &“General&” Henry du Pont, who profited from the Civil War to build the Gunpowder Trust, one of the first corporate monopolies; Alfred I. du Pont, betrayed by his cousins and pushed out of the organization, landing in social exile as the powerful &“Count of Florida&”; the three brothers who expanded Du Pont&’s control to General Motors, fought autoworkers&’ right to unionize, and then launched a family tradition of waging campaigns to destroy FDR&’s New Deal regulatory reforms; Governor Pete du Pont, who ran for president and backed Newt Gingrich&’s 1994 Republican Revolution; and Irving S. Shapiro, the architect of Du Pont&’s ongoing campaign to undermine effective environmental regulation. From plans to force President Roosevelt from office, to munitions sales to warlords and the rising Nazis, to Freon&’s damage to the planet&’s life-protecting ozone layer, to the manufacture of deadly gases and the covered-up poisoning of Du Pont workers, to the reputation the company earned for being the worst polluter of America&’s air and water, the Du Pont reign has been dappled with scandal for centuries. Culled from years of painstaking research and interviews, this fully documented book unfolds like a novel. Laying bare the bitter feuds, power plays, smokescreens, and careless unaccountability that erupted in murder, Colby pulls back the curtain on a dynasty whose formidable influence continues to this day. Suppressed in myriad ways and the subject of the author&’s landmark federal lawsuit, Du Pont Dynasty is an essential history of the United States.
Du Pont Dynasty: Behind the Nylon Curtain (Forbidden Bookshelf #6)
by Gerard ColbyAward-winning journalist Gerard Colby takes readers behind the scenes of one of America&’s most powerful and enduring corporations; now with a new introduction by the author Their name is everywhere. America&’s wealthiest industrial family by far and a vast financial power, the Du Ponts, from their mansions in northern Delaware&’s &“Chateau Country,&” have long been leaders in the relentless drive to turn the United States into a plutocracy. The Du Pont story in this country began in 1800. Éleuthère Irénée du Pont, official keeper of the gunpowder of corrupt King Louis XVI, fled from revolutionary France to America. Two years later he founded the gunpowder company that called itself &“America&’s armorer&”—and that President Wilson&’s secretary of war called a &“species of outlaws&” for war profiteering. Du Pont Dynasty introduces many colorful characters, including &“General&” Henry du Pont, who profited from the Civil War to build the Gunpowder Trust, one of the first corporate monopolies; Alfred I. du Pont, betrayed by his cousins and pushed out of the organization, landing in social exile as the powerful &“Count of Florida&”; the three brothers who expanded Du Pont&’s control to General Motors, fought autoworkers&’ right to unionize, and then launched a family tradition of waging campaigns to destroy FDR&’s New Deal regulatory reforms; Governor Pete du Pont, who ran for president and backed Newt Gingrich&’s 1994 Republican Revolution; and Irving S. Shapiro, the architect of Du Pont&’s ongoing campaign to undermine effective environmental regulation. From plans to force President Roosevelt from office, to munitions sales to warlords and the rising Nazis, to Freon&’s damage to the planet&’s life-protecting ozone layer, to the manufacture of deadly gases and the covered-up poisoning of Du Pont workers, to the reputation the company earned for being the worst polluter of America&’s air and water, the Du Pont reign has been dappled with scandal for centuries. Culled from years of painstaking research and interviews, this fully documented book unfolds like a novel. Laying bare the bitter feuds, power plays, smokescreens, and careless unaccountability that erupted in murder, Colby pulls back the curtain on a dynasty whose formidable influence continues to this day. Suppressed in myriad ways and the subject of the author&’s landmark federal lawsuit, Du Pont Dynasty is an essential history of the United States.
Dub Sub Confidential: A Goalkeeper's Life with – and without – the Dubs
by John LeonardDub Sub Confidential by John Leonard: a GAA memoir like no other.WINNER OF THE SETANTA SPORTS IRISH SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD.John Leonard was a gifted Gaelic football goalkeeper who had the misfortune to reach his prime at the same time, and in the same county, as one of the all-time greats: Stephen Cluxton. Unless something happened to Clucko, Leonard was always going to be number 2. Of course, it didn't help that he had a problem with drink and drugs ...Dub Sub Confidential is John Leonard's vivid, witty and searingly honest account of his life in and out of sport. He was both a committed Dub and a sceptical observer of the goings on in the dressing-room and on the training pitch. He writes about the players and the mentors, and about the oddity of being part of the GAA's biggest circus while never expecting to get on the pitch. And he writes brilliantly about the demons that led him to addiction, his efforts for many years to party hard and train hard, and his eventual breakthrough to sobriety.Dub Sub Confidential is a GAA memoir like no other yet published - a book about how Gaelic games collide with real life. It is also a brilliant read from a remarkable personality.'Four decades after Eamon Dunphy published Only a Game?, his seminal book on football, John Leonard has produced the Gaelic football equivalent - only it's better' Sunday Times Sports Books of the Year'Reads like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas ... a great read' Ray D'Arcy, RTE Radio 1'As fascinating as its insights into the Dublin dressing room and the big matchdays are, to reduce Dub Sub Confidential to being just a sports or GAA book is to do it an injustice; it is an astonishing, exceptional, visceral account of a confused young man' Irish Examiner'Engaging, honest, sad and frightening in places - ultimately raw and real. Couldn't put it down' Ryle Nugent, RTÉ'The overall feeling of Leonard's sporting life is of a high-wire act. He somehow managed to have a part-time romance with Dublin football while full-bloodedly chasing whatever and whoever was on offer in Dublin after dark ... There is an antic and often jubilant energy to Leonard's writing' Keith Duggan, Irish Times'Remarkable ... a stark and searingly honest memoir' the42.ie'Students of Gaelic football will be intrigued by his account of the rivalry with Cluxton, arguably the most important player of modern times' Sunday Times
Dubai Dreams
by Raymond BarrettSun, sea, shopping, roaring nightlife, the world's tallest building, seven-star resort hotels and sprawling championship golf courses... these all come to mind when thinking about Dubai, the newest and most luxurious hotspot for business and leisure. But what lurks behind this glitzy glamour-town? Raymond Barrett investigates, and finds some fascinating results. Incredibly topical, Dubai Dreams is a must-read for anyone seeking a journey to the 'Las Vegas of the East' themselves, or those interested in seeing the truth behind all the bling. Far from being solely a "billionaire's paradise," Barrett discovers the myriad of other people who live in, work in, and visit Dubai, each revealing a new facet of the Arabian city-state. Dubai boasts not only the world's largest man-made island, but also a extraordinarily varied population, consisting of expatriates from all over the world - India, China, England, the Philippines - Barrett explores the city, leading the reader to discover what lies below the gleaming skyline, not just malls and sport courts, but also mosques and temples, courthouses and speakeasies - making it the first book to look behind the scenes at Dubai as a whole, in terms of life, business and culture.
Duchamp and the Aesthetics of Chance: Art as Experiment
by John Brogden Herbert MolderingsMarcel Duchamp is often viewed as an "artist-engineer-scientist," a kind of rationalist who relied heavily on the ideas of the French mathematician and philosopher Henri Poincaré. Yet a complete portrait of Duchamp and his multiple influences draws a different picture. In his 3 Standard Stoppages (1913-1914), a work that uses chance as an artistic medium, we see how far Duchamp subverted scientism in favor of a radical individualistic aesthetic and experimental vision. Unlike the Dadaists, Duchamp did more than dismiss or negate the authority of science. He pushed scientific rationalism to the point where its claims broke down and alternative truths were allowed to emerge. With humor and irony, Duchamp undertook a method of artistic research, reflection, and visual thought that focused less on beauty than on the notion of the "possible. " He became a passionate advocate of the power of invention and thinking things that had never been thought before. The 3 Standard Stoppages is the ultimate realization of the play between chance and dimension, visibility and invisibility, high and low art, and art and anti-art. Situating Duchamp firmly within the literature and philosophy of his time, Herbert Molderings recaptures the spirit of a frequently misread artist--and his thrilling aesthetic of chance.
Duchamp's Pipe: A Chess Romance--Marcel Duchamp and George Koltanowski
by Celia RabinovitchArt, chess, and an $87,000 pipe frame an inside look at the relationship between Dadaist artist Marcel Duchamp and chess Grandmaster George KoltanowskiSpanning three decades, two continents, two world wars, and the international art and chess scenes of the mid twentieth century, Duchamp's Pipe explores the remarkable friendship between art world enfant terrible Marcel Duchamp and blindfold chess champion George Koltanowski. Artist and cultural historian Celia Rabinovitch describes each man's rise to prominence, the chess matches that sparked their relationship, and the recently discovered pipe that Duchamp gave to Koltanowski. This tale of genius and resilience offers fresh insights into the essence of the gift in the bohemian underground. Rabinovitch invites us to discover the chess wizard and a Duchamp slightly off pedestal--and ultimately more human.
The Duchess
by Amanda ForemanA NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOKNow a major motion picture starring Keira Knightley and Ralph FiennesLady Georgiana Spencer was the great-great-great-great-aunt of Diana, Princess of Wales, and was nearly as famous in her day. In 1774 Georgiana achieved immediate celebrity by marrying William Cavendish, fifth duke of Devonshire, one of England's richest and most influential aristocrats. She became the queen of fashionable society and founder of the most important political salon of her time. But Georgiana's public success concealed an unhappy marriage, a gambling addiction, drinking, drug-taking, and rampant love affairs with the leading politicians of the day. With penetrating insight, Amanda Foreman reveals a fascinating woman whose struggle against her own weaknesses, whose great beauty and flamboyance, and whose determination to play a part in the affairs of the world make her a vibrant, astonishingly contemporary figure.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Duchess
by Wendy HoldenIt was a love so strong, a king renounced his kingdom—all for that woman. Or was she just an escape route for a monarch who never wanted to rule? Bestselling author Wendy Holden takes an intimate look at one of the most notorious scandals of the 20th century. 1928. A middle-aged foreigner comes to London with average looks, no money and no connections. Wallis&’s first months in the city are lonely, dull and depressing. With no friends of her own she follows the glamorous set in magazines and goes to watch society weddings. Her stuffy husband Ernest&’s idea of fun, meanwhile, is touring historic monuments. When an unexpected encounter leads to a house party with the Prince of Wales, Wallis&’s star begins to rise. Her secret weapon is her American pep and honesty. For the prince she is a breath of fresh air. As her friendship with him grows, their relationship deepens into love. Wallis is plunged into a world of unimaginable luxury and privilege, enjoying weekends together at his private palace on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Wallis knows the fun and excitement can&’t last. The prince will have to marry and she will return to Ernest. The sudden death of George V seems to make this inevitable; the Prince of Wales is now King Edward VIII. When, to her shock and amazement, he refuses to give her up--or recognize that they are facing impossible odds--her fairy tale becomes a nightmare. The royal family close ranks to shut her out and Ernest gives an ultimatum. Wallis finds herself trapped when Edward insists on abdicating his throne. She can&’t escape the overwhelming public outrage and villainized, she becomes the woman everyone blames—the face of the most dramatic royal scandal of the twentieth century.
Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchill
by Susan Holloway ScottIN THE PERILOUS WORLD OF KINGS AND QUEENS, SHE MATCHED AMBITION WITH LOYALTY, RUTHLESS INTRIGUE WITH CONSUMING PASSION. . . . London, 1673. With her family ruined by war, penniless thirteen-year-old Sarah Jennings is overjoyed to be chosen as a maid of honor at the bawdy Restoration court of Charles II. She soon wins the trust of Lady Anne of York, a lonely princess who becomes one of her staunchest allies. And though Sarah's beauty stirs the desires of the jaded aristocrats, she wants to be more than a mistress. Only one man possesses ambition and passions that match her own: John Churchill, a dashing young military hero. He would ask for her hand - and win her heart for a lifetime. . . . Brimming with the intrigue and sensuality of one of history's most decadent courts, Duchess brings to vivid life the story of an unforgettable woman who determined her own destiny - outspoken, outrageous, but most of all true to herself.
The Duchess Countess
by Catherine Ostler'Outrageously scandalous, soaked in sex and money, aristocracy, adventure and grandeur... Catherine Ostler&’s superb, gripping, decadent biography brings an extraordinary woman and a whole world blazingly to life. An unforgettable, unputdownable read that seems both historical and modern, utterly relevant today.&’ – Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Catherine the Great and Potemkin'Fascinating. Magnificent.?Sensitively told.' Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five and The Covent Garden LadiesWhen the glamorous Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston, Countess of Bristol, went on trial at Westminster Hall for bigamy in April 1776, the story drew more attention in society than the American War of Independence. A clandestine, candlelit wedding to the young heir to an earldom, a second marriage to a Duke, a lust for diamonds and an electrifying appearance at a masquerade ball in a diaphanous dress: no wonder the trial was a sensation. However, Elizabeth refused to submit to public humiliation and retire quietly. Rather than backing gracefully out of the limelight, she embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe, being welcomed by the Pope and Catherine the Great among others. As maid of honour to Augusta, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth led her life in the inner circle of the Hanoverian court and her exploits delighted and scandalised the press and the people. She made headlines, and was a constant feature in penny prints and gossip columns. Writers were intrigued by her. Thackeray drew on Elizabeth as inspiration for his calculating, alluring Becky Sharp. But her behaviour, often depicted as attention-seeking and manipulative, hid a more complex tale – that of Elizabeth&’s fight to overcome personal tragedy and loss. Now, in this brilliantly told and evocative biography, Catherine Ostler takes a fresh look at Elizabeth&’s story and seeks to understand and reappraise a woman who refused to be defined by society&’s expectations of her. A woman who was by turns, brave, loving and generous but also reckless, greedy and insecure; a woman totally unwilling to accept the female status of underdog or to hand over all the power, the glory and the adventures of life to men.
The Duchess Countess: The Woman Who Scandalized Eighteenth-Century London
by Catherine OstlerThis &“scintillating story superbly told&” (The Times, London) explores the adventurous life of the stylish and scandalous Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston—a woman whose infamous trial was bigger news in British society than the American War of Independence—and provides a clear-eyed and fascinating look into the sumptuous Georgian Era.As maid of honor to the Princess of Wales, Elizabeth Chudleigh enjoyed a luxurious life in the inner circle of the Hanoverian court. With her extraordinary style and engaging wit, she both delighted and scandalized the press and public. She would later even inspire William Thackeray when he was writing his classic Vanity Fair, providing the inspiration for the alluring social climber Becky Sharp. But Elizabeth&’s real story is more complex and surprising than anything out of fiction. A clandestine, candlelit wedding to the young heir to an earldom, a second marriage to a duke, a lust for diamonds, and an electrifying appearance at a masquerade ball in a gossamer dress—it&’s no wonder that Elizabeth&’s eventual trial was a sensation. Charged with bigamy, an accusation she vehemently fought against, Elizabeth refused to submit to public humiliation and retire quietly. &“A superb, gripping, decadent, colorful biography that brings an extraordinary woman and a whole world blazingly to life&” (Simon Sebag Montefiore, New York Times bestselling author), The Duchess Countess is perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Women of Means, and The Crown.
The Duchess / Maggie & Pierre: And, The Duchess
by Linda GriffithsWinner of the first Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play, Maggie and Pierre chronicles the public and private relationship between Pierre Trudeau and Margaret Trudeau from 1974-1980. In this mock epic tale three characters, Pierre, Margaret, and Henry, a newspaper reporter navigate the landscape of a changing nation and opposing ideals. The Duchess tells the story of Wallis Simpson, the infamous woman for whom Edward VIII abdicated his throne in 1936. Wallis was brazen and sexual, and unintentionally steered the course of British history as she captivated the king. An inspired epic, The Duchess traverses between a straightforward narrative and magic realism.
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street
by Helene Hanff“A charmer. Will beguile an hour of your time and put you in touch with mankind.” —New York TimesNewly reissued with an introduction by Plum Sykes, this cult favorite is a delightful diary—think Nancy Mitford–meets–Nora Ephron—chronicling author Helene Hanff’s “bucket list” trip to London (at the age of fifty-five!) after the unexpected success of her memoir 84 Charing Cross Road. When she’s invited to London for the English publication of her wildly successful book, 84 Charing Cross Road—in which she shares two decades of correspondence with Frank Doel, a British bookseller who became a dear friend—New York writer Helene Hanff is thrilled to realize a lifelong dream. The trip will be bittersweet, because she can’t help wishing Frank was still alive, but she’s determined to capture every moment of the journey.Helene’s time in London exceeds her wildest expectations. She visits landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle; explores Shakespeare’s favorite pub, Dickens’s house, and the Oxford University courtyard where John Donne used to walk; and makes a host of new friends from all walks of life, who take her to the theater, introduce her to institutions like Harrod’s, and share with her their favorite corners of countryside.A love letter to England and its literary heritage, written by a Manhattanite who isn’t afraid to speak her mind (or tell a British barman how to make a real American martini), The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is an endearing account of two wildly different worlds colliding; it’s an outsider’s witty, vibrant portrait of idiosyncratic British culture at its best, as well as a profound commentary about the written word’s power to sustain us, transport us, and unite us.
Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie
by Richard HackAs the author of more than eighty books and short story collections— including And Then There Were None, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and Murder at the Vicarage— Agatha Christie is the most popular novelist in history, with more than two billion books of her work sold worldwide. Nearly as famous for her aversion to the press as she was for creating Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Christie made no secret of her need for privacy. She lived a life shrouded in secrecy, and nearly fifty years after her passing, fans are still curious about her life beyond the pages. Drawing upon more than 5,000 previously unpublished letters, notes, and documents, award-winning biographer Richard Hack allows Christie to write again. Duchess of Death is her story, as full of romance, travel, wealth, and scandal as any mystery Christie ever crafted.
Duchess of Palms: A Memoir
by Nadine EckhardtChild of the Great Depression, teenage “Duchess of Palms” beauty queen, wife of an acclaimed novelist and later of a brilliant U.S. congressman, and ultimately a successful single working woman and mother, Nadine Eckhardt has lived a fascinating life. In this unique, funny, and honest memoir, she recounts her journey from being a “fifties girl” who lived through the men in her life to becoming a woman in her own right, working toward her own goals. Eckhardt’s first marriage to writer Billy Lee Brammer gave her entrée to liberal political and literary circles in Austin and Washington, where she and Brammer both worked for Senator Lyndon B. Johnson. She describes the heady excitement of LBJ’s world—a milieu that Brammer vividly captured in his novel The Gay Place. She next recalls her second marriage to Bob Eckhardt, whom she helped get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as her growing involvement with the counterculture of social protest, sexual revolution, and drug use. Eckhardt honestly recounts how the changing times changed her perception of herself, recalling that “I didn’t know how to achieve for myself, only for others, and I felt ripped off and empty.” This painful realization opened the door to a new life for Eckhardt. Her memoir concludes with a joyful description of her multifaceted later life as a restaurateur, assistant to Molly Ivins, writer, and center of a wide circle of friends.
Duchess of Palms: A Memoir
by Nadine EckhardtChild of the Great Depression, teenage "Duchess of Palms" beauty queen, wife of an acclaimed novelist and later of a brilliant U. S. congressman, and ultimately a successful single working woman and mother, Nadine Eckhardt has lived a fascinating life. In this unique, funny, and honest memoir, she recounts her journey from being a "fifties girl" who lived through the men in her life to becoming a woman in her own right, working toward her own goals. Eckhardt's first marriage to writer Billy Lee Brammer gave her entrée to liberal political and literary circles in Austin and Washington, where she and Brammer both worked for Senator Lyndon B. Johnson. She describes the heady excitement of LBJ's world-a milieu that Brammer vividly captured in his novel The Gay Place. She next recalls her second marriage to Bob Eckhardt, whom she helped get elected to the U. S. House of Representatives, as well as her growing involvement with the counterculture of social protest, sexual revolution, and drug use. Eckhardt honestly recounts how the changing times changed her perception of herself, recalling that "I didn't know how to achieve for myself, only for others, and I felt ripped off and empty. " This painful realization opened the door to a new life for Eckhardt. Her memoir concludes with a joyful description of her multifaceted later life as a restaurateur, assistant to Molly Ivins, writer, and center of a wide circle of friends.
The Duchess of Windsor: The Truth About the Royal Family's Greatest Scandal
by Michael BlochMichael Bloch's biography of the woman Edward VIII renounced kingship to marry drew on his previous publication of their intimate corespondence, and presented a picture of her which was often startlingly at variance with previous accounts.It brings vividly to life the qualities which captivated her royal suitor, and caused some surprise by speculating that much of the mystery of her life might be explained by an element of gender confusion.
The Duchess of Windsor: The Truth About the Royal Family's Greatest Scandal
by Michael BlochRoyal scandal is nothing new. In 1936, the royal family was rocked by events that threatened its very existence. Edward VIII, King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire, Emperor of India, gave up his throne. A constitutional crisis ensued. The reason? He intended to marry Wallis Simpson - a divorcee.In The Duchess of Windsor, Michael Bloch tells her fascinating story. This is the definitive biography of the woman Edward prized above his crown. Drawing on first-hand access to their intimate correspondence, it paints a picture of Simpson which was often startlingly at variance with the official story as reported at the time. It brings vividly to life the qualities which captivated her royal suitor, and on publication caused outrage and surprise by uncovering the great mysteries of her life.
The Duchess Of Windsor: The Uncommon Life Of Wallis Simpson
by Greg KingA woman's life can really be a succession of lives, each revolving around some emotionally compelling situation or challenge, and each marked off by some intense experience. It was the love story of the century--the king and the commoner. In December 1936, King Edward VII abdicated the throne to marry "the woman I love," Wallis Warfield Simpson, a twice-divorced American who quickly became one of the twentieth century's most famous personalities, a figure of intrigue and mystery, both admired and reviled. "Never explain, never complain." Wrongly blamed for the abdication crisis, Wallis suffered hostility from the Royal Family and much of the world. Yet interest in her story has remained constant, resulting in a small library of biographies that convey a thinly veiled animosity toward their subject. The truth, however, is infinitely more fascinating than the shallow, pathetic portrait that has often been painted. "For a gallant spirit, there can never be defeat." Using previously untapped sources, acclaimed biographer Greg King presents a complete and, for the first time, sympathetic portrait of the Duchess that sifts the decades of rumor and accusation to reveal the woman behind the legend. From her birth in Pennsylvania during the Gilded Age to her death in Paris in 1986, King takes the reader through a world of privilege, palaces, high society, and love with the accompaniment of hatreds, feuds, conspiracies, and lies. The cast of characters is vast: politicians and presidents, dictators and socialites. Twenty-four pages of photographs reveal the life of the Duchess in all its incomparable glamour and romance. Greg King's biographies The Last Empress, The Man Who Killed Rasputin, and The Mad King have been universally acclaimed and internationally published. He lives in Everett, Washington.
Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de' Medici (Young Royals)
by Carolyn MeyerYoung Catherine de' Medici is the sole heiress to the entire fortune of the wealthy Medici family. But her life is far from luxurious. After a childhood spent locked away behind the walls of a convent, she joins the household of the pope, where at last she can be united with her true love. But, all too soon, that love is replaced with an engagement to a boy who is cold and aloof. It soon becomes clear that Catherine will need all the cunning she can muster to command the respect she deserves as one of France's most powerful queens. Includes a family tree.