That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor

Written by Anne Sebba

Narrated by Samantha Bond

One of Britain's most distinguished biographers turns her focus on one of the most vilified women of the twentieth century. Historian Anne Sebba has written the first full biography by a woman of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.

'That woman', as she was referred to by the Queen Mother, became a hate figure for ensnaring a British king and destabilising the monarchy. Neither beautiful nor brilliant, she nevertheless became one of the most talked-about women of her generation, and she inspired such deep love and adoration in Edward VIII that he gave up a throne and an empire for her. Wallis lived by her wit and her wits, while both her apparent and alleged moral transgressions added to her aura and dazzle.

Based on new archives and material only recently made available, this scrupulously researched biography sheds new light on the character and motivations of a powerful, charismatic and complex woman.

Read by Samantha Bond

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette UK Audio
• Release date: Nov 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781409143567

Anne Sebba

ANNE SEBBA is a prize-winning biographer, lecturer, and former Reuters foreign correspondent who has written several books, including That Woman and Les Parisiennes. A former chair of Britain’s Society of Authors and now on the Council, Anne is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Historical Research. She lives in London.

Reviews for That Woman

[catherineburkehines · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

It's fitting that the jacket blurb describing this as well-researched is from Penny Junor. This book carried speculation to new heights; Wallis possibly was a little masculine, and that was because she was - maybe - a hermaphrodite (a term Sebba at least acknowledges is offensive). Edward VIII wasn't the most masculine guy. Maybe they were a little off-center in the bedroom. Big whoop.

Sebba did make some interesting points about the vilification they endured, and that was interesting, but also detailed their obnoxious and all-pervasive self-centered and empty lives.

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

recommended for those who are interested in the topic of Wallis Simpson, the woman blamed for causing King Edward VIII to abdicate the throne of England. A commoner, twice divorced, she was married to husband number two when she and her husband became part of the inner circle of those in the bright sunshine of the playboy who was known for his prowess with women, and his love of traveling. Truly, Edward (David) was a boy. In this book the author notes the possibility of autisium. Lacking the rudimentary knowledge of what it took to run a country, still Edward was popular in the short time between when his father died and he ascended to the throne and then gave it to his brother Bertie. He lacked the ability to concentrate and follow through with a task.His intelligence was questioned, as well as his maturity. He had torrid relationships with other married women, including when he first met Wallis. Whether there was love or obsession with Wallis is up for speculation. He was indeed obsessed, and like a little boy, he wanted what he couldn't have. Until, he placed her in a position where her husband no longer loved her and moved on to marry Wallis' "best" friend. Then, save for a life with The Duke of Windsor, she had nothing.It is a fascinating story. But, in the end, I felt sorry for everyone involved. While they married and lived in France, they had a small group of friends. But, mainly, they were hermit like. In the end, she died the way she feared she would, ie all alone.

[suzanne_mitchell-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Terrible book.

[librarianbryan · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Really how could I give this anything else? Wallis has been vilified? Sure. But considering her and the Duke of Windsor were two of the most evil people who ever lived maybe THEY deserved it? Or perhaps the fact this book was so poorly written I couldn't help but laugh. Maybe what really sealed the deal for me was the fact the author suggests Wallis was intersexed without providing any substantial evidence. Real classy.

Perhaps it deserves five stars because they really were the PERFECT COUPLE even if they were IMPS FROM HELL.

[tututhefirst_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Wallis Warfield (better known as the Duchess of Windsor) hailed from Baltimore, my home town. World famous as the twice divorced woman who captured the heart of the King of England, she is a person whose life has never made much sense to me, and who is often held up to much scorn and criticism. Of course every young girl who hears the story about a King giving up his throne to marry "the woman I love" at first must think this is a romantic fairy tale. It isn't. It's a tragedy.In this latest biography of the Duchess, Anne Sebba tries to present both The Duke (ex-king Edward ) and his Duchess as two persons whose personality disorders (nowhere documented) drove them to act as they did and meant that they were perfect for each other. The author's positing of strange sexual dysfunctions for both of them adds nothing to the already well-known tale, and serves only to make the story more unbelievable. She succeeds only in reinforcing my perception that they were each selfish, infantile, and insecure to a degree that they could never have functioned as adults in the tumultuous world in which they lived. A total waste of time, and a sad, sad, story.

[pennybrainerd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Perhaps Wallis just thought she'd have a fling with the soon to be King of England and that would be it, but he had other ideas. Long before he became King Edward, he talked of abdicating, according to this book. It seems like he used Wallis as an excuse to abdicate. What seems puzzling is that for the rest of his life he tried to have the Her Royal Highness title given back to her. It had never been hers in the first place, but it made not a bit of difference to him. I felt sorry for these two people. He seemed to be totally infantile in his behavior, and she was portrayed as caught in a trap never wanting to be the most hated woman in the world. Whether all that was written is totally true is up for conjecture.

[briandrewz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book about the life of a woman, which has been so well documented, is probably one of the most dinfinitive about its subject. The story is well-known. The book guides the reader through the twists and turmoils of the romance of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, dramatically climaxing with the Abdication in 1936. Afterwards, the book sort of rambles aimlessly through the life of the Duchess, just as the the Duchess's life rambled until it's end in 1986.

[sigmundfraud · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I find the speculation on variations of sexual dysfunctions a waste of time. We won't ever know so why bother. She and the King each had a terrible dilemma. I don't think it would be such a problem today.