Princes at War

Starred review from January 19, 2015
Former BBC television producer Cadbury (Chocolate Wars) provides a thrilling account of the fallout after Prince Edward, heir to the throne, abdicated to marry his American lover—as his brother, Prince Albert, became King George VI and attempted to save Europe from Nazi Germany. The outbreak of WWII forced George to set aside qualms with the prickly Winston Churchill and shelter royalty fleeing from invaded countries. Meanwhile, Edward and his wife, now the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, were suspected of collaborating with the enemy, given their former ties to Nazi leadership. Two more brothers also had to find their way in chaotic times: the Duke of Kent, a philandering playboy turned devoted RAF captain, and the Duke of Gloucester, who battled the perception that he had a “lack of spark or intelligence.” Cadbury artfully captures the exhilaration of Operation Dynamo at Dunkirk, where citizen volunteers escalated a massive evacuation of British troops, the devastation of the London blitz, and the suspenseful planning and execution of the Normandy invasion. Her nuanced exploration of the king’s reticent temperament and the psychic toll taken by his many troubles creates a fuller picture of the man, who was destined to lead during a “spectacular downfall” in British power.

February 15, 2015

This account begins with the domino-toppling moment in 1936 when Edward VIII abdicated the throne of England in order to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson--an action that left him as the controversial Duke of Windsor, elevated the stammering Prince Albert to take up the reins of kingship as George VI, and forced the stiff Prince Henry and thrill-seeking Prince George into positions of new responsibility. On the heels of this upheaval came increasing aggression from Nazi Germany, leading to the war that would test the mettle and loyalties of all four brothers. As in her previous work The Chocolate Wars, Cadbury proves adept at juggling multiple threads and subjects within the historical narrative. Her one weakness is a clear bias toward George VI and against the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, leading to the latter (deserving or not) frequently being excoriated by the text. VERDICT Bias aside, this is an engaging, well-told history of England and its royals during its most fragile period; conveying wartime tensions, worldwide scandals, and familial devotions and rivalries with equal vividness.--Kathleen McCallister, Tulane Univ., New Orleans

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