Noblesse Oblige: The Duchess of Windsor as I Knew Her

Noblesse Oblige: The Duchess of Windsor as I Knew Her
- Used Book in Good Condition
All â€œBritish Royal watchersâ€ and Windsor aficionados know about the only voluntary abdication in British history when, on December 10, 1936, the handsome, young, beloved King Edward Vlll handed over his three hundred twenty-five day reign to his brother; who, on that foggy night, became King George Vl. The famous abdication speech, delivered in a radio address to the nation, contained the memorable words â€œI cannot undertake the heavy burden of state without the love and support of the woman I loveâ€ and became one of the eraâ€™s most repeated phrases. The historic act catapulted the relatively obscure, twice-divorced Wallis Simpson to international fame as she became both demonized and intriguing. Within weeks and in an unprecedented act, Time Magazine named Mrs. Simpson the first â€œWoman of the Year.â€ Now, twenty-five years after the Duchess of Windsorâ€™s death, the first personal description of the legendary lady is available. Readers of Noblesse Oblige, the Duchess of Windsor as I knew her by Richard Rene Silvin will learn intimate details of the Duchess as Silvin refutes most of the defamatory and scurrilous rumors which surrounded the legendary lady and which, she herself, abhorred but never discussed. The Duchess of Windsor Silvin describes is anything but the detached, cold ruthless, superficial lady history has heretofore portrayed. Instead, readers will â€œmeetâ€ a clever, funny, profound and loving woman. Noblesse Oblige begins in 1973, when the-then twenty-five year old author was appointed by US AID, a branch of the State Department, to restructure a famous Parisian hospital, which was the lonely, recently widowed Duchessâ€™ only charity and reputed to be the sole beneficiary of her estate. In keeping with her largely unrecognized tradition of charity work, the Duchess took it upon herself to study the inner workings â€“ and intrigues - of a modern hospital. She took a keen interest in Silvin who would become her protÃ©gÃ©e and certainly the object of her final, well thought out public battle. Noblesse Obligeâ€™s readers are also exposed to a researched history of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor beginning with their early lives and which follows them to their deaths. The book contains newly revealed details of the Dukeâ€™s peaceful demise, in May of 1972, when he serenely passed away in his Paris home, surrounded by his completely devoted Duchess, competent nurses, favorite Pug, Black Diamond, and treasured items. Sadly, and in stark contrast, Silvin describes the Duchessâ€™ decade-long illness during which, in an undiagnosed form of dementia, she gradually lost control of her arms and legs, was inhumanely kept alive for six years, slowly isolated from friends, stripped of her dignity and even her nurturing child-substitutes â€“ her dogs. The book both begins and ends with vivid and detailed descriptions of the hospital Board of Governorâ€™s meetings where a still keen-minded Duchess brilliantly strategizes to save the author from being terminated. In her own words, quoted in the bookâ€™s first chapter (â€œGod knows I can appreciate being the victim of a plot!â€) she embarks on her last quest for what she thought was justice. As the story reaches its climax and wearing her chalcedony sapphire jewelry, which she claimed â€œhas mystical powers to assist usâ€ she uses the tragic death of Aristotle Onassis to further her agenda while quoting the motto of the highly revered British â€œMost Noble Order of the Garterâ€ Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame on those with evil thoughts.) Noblesse Oblige (another one of the Duchessâ€™ favorite expressions) contains amusing accounts of famous Parisian physicians, high-level French politicians, international socialites and even a vulgar and notorious American Congressman. Because of the bookâ€™s famous characters and venues, some names and facts have been altered. Noblesse Oblige is the authorâ€™s third book following I Survived Swiss Boarding Schools and Walking the Rainbow, an Arc to Triumph.
Country USA
Brand Brand: Nike Publishing, LLC
Manufacturer Nike Publishing, LLC
Binding Paperback
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780615505787
ReleaseDate 0000-00-00

Country	USA
Brand	Brand: Nike Publishing, LLC
Manufacturer	Nike Publishing, LLC
Binding	Paperback
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780615505787
ReleaseDate	0000-00-00

Noblesse Oblige: The Duchess of Windsor as I Knew Her

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