The Woman Before Wallis

July 1, 2020
In 1926, American Thelma Morgan marries into the rarefied world of the British aristocracy; before long, she has commenced an affair with the future King Edward VIII, known to history as the man who gave up his crown for Wallis Simpson, Thelma's immediate successor in his affections. Though most famous as the mistress of the Prince of Wales, Thelma is well connected in her own right, her twin sister having married into the Vanderbilt family. Alternating chapters set in 1934 tell the story of the sensational trial in which her widowed sister battles to reclaim custody of her daughter from her sister-in-law. The real history behind the novel is fascinating enough that it has the potential to distract from Thelma's personal trials and tribulations, but Turnbull, in her debut, skillfully balances the drama with an intimate portrayal of Thelma's search for love and happiness both within her marriage and beyond it. Fans of Netflix's The Crown will delight in this well-researched tale of high society scandal involving a little-known woman whose story is begging to be heard.Women in Focus: The 19th in 2020(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)