“The Woman Before Wallis” - Bryn Turnbull

 

🎩 TWBW tells the lesser known, yet no less potentially explosive, story of the relationship between Lady Thelma Furness and Edward, the Prince of Wales. Their affair (for she was very much married to Lord Furness), was well known among the royal family and aristocracy. It ended as Thelma’s attention was riveted to New York and her sister Gloria Vanderbilt’s custody battle in which Gloria’s sexuality became salacious, front page gossip. Perhaps, the negative press coverage and potential for blow back to the royal family (Gloria’s alleged lover, Lady Nada Milford Haven, was a close relation of the BRF), precipated the end of Thelma’s relationship with Edward. One thing is certain, the vacancy in Edward’s love life was soon filled by the infamous Wallis Simpson.

🎩 Turnbull alternates between two timelines: 1925 when Thelma met her second husband Duke, and 1934 when Thelma is having an affair with Edward. The back and forth was confusing at times. Rather than flipping back to sort timelines, I eventually accepted the momentary disorientation as the account flows well. The story culminates in the Gloria Vanderbilt custody scandal. I had to restrain every impulse to research the Vanderbilt scandal, but not to worry, Turnbull fully informs readers of the details. Turbull pens an epilogue and author’s note so we know how things played out for Thelma Furness in her post-Edward life.

🎩 Though obviously, the connection with the royals and the lead up to Edward’s abdication of the throne in favor of Wallis, is paramount, I thought it was interesting that the narrative about Thelma and Gloria shows us two women trying to reconcile their desire for luxurious and secure futures, and their desires for love. It seems that neither can have both. For women of their social rank and era, they did not have many options other than securing a rich husband. And even then, their happiness wasn’t guaranteed.

🎩 For a wealthy and worldy woman - and that too, one who clawed her way in - I was surprised by Thelma’s naivete regarding Edward. Having experienced firsthand the bonds of decorum encircling him, knowing the restrictions on his activities placed by the BRF, and even pitying his fishbowl existence, how could she possibly have anticipated him vocally intervening in Gloria’s trial? Of course the BRF would forbid it.

🎩 Despite their tacitly acknowledged relationship, Edward and Thelma are bound by unshakeable rules of propriety. Thelma isn’t one to cause a scene or rock the royal ship. She appears willing to abide by their rules of secrecy  and keep herself in the background. Perhaps this had as much to do with her personality as the fact that she was also safeguarding her husband’s reputation. Wallis, on the other hand, is similarly situated to Thelma (both are American, married, and of meager means), but is more than ready to ruffle feathers and shake the royal foundation.

🎩 The debonair Aly Khan was an interesting real-life figure. I definitely had to google him. He had a line that summarized Thelma’s position neatly when her sister was beleagured by scandal, and the BRF sent an attorney to protect Lady Milford Haven. When Thelma has no messages from Edward, Turnbull has Aly say: “If he knows, and he’s cutting you out deliberately, he’s a weaker man than I thought. If he’s truly ignorant, he’s weaker still”. 

🎩 Turnbull has crafted this novel playing with complex and well-known personalities and timelines with such savvy, that I was surprised that this was her debut novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The attention to detail in her research is evident, right down to descriptions of various rooms in Edward’s estate.