Blog Tour: Another Woman's Husband by Gill Paul

When I heard that Gill Paul had a new novel coming out I jumped at the chance to be a part of the blog tour. As someone who has always been fascinated by the British Royal Family (and having recently devoured all ten episodes of The Crown in a matter of days), I knew from the outset that I would love this book. I wasn't disappointed!

Two women who challenged the Crown. Divided by time. Bound by a secret...

1911

At the age of fifteen, carefree Mary Kirk and indomitable Wallis Warfield meet at summer camp. Their friendship will survive heartbreaks, separation and the demands of the British Crown until it is shattered by one unforgivable betrayal.

1997

Rachel's romantic break in Paris with her fiance ends in tragedy when the car ahead crashes. Inside was Princess Diana. Back in Brighton, Rachel is haunted by the accident, and intrigued to learn the princess had visited the last home of Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, only hours before the crash. Soon, the discovery of a long-forgotten link to Wallis Simpson leads Rachel to the truth behind a scandal that shook the world...


Review
Although I was only five years old when it happened, I remember vividly the day that Princess Diana died. I was too young to comprehend the enormity of what had happened, but I remember the nationwide shock and outpouring of grief. I remember seeing the flowers all over London on the news and feeling as if something had shifted, never to be the same again. As the 20th anniversary of her death draws near this novel not only explores the events of that fateful night in the Alma tunnel, but also juxtaposes Diana's life with that of another supposed thorn in the side of the British Monarchy - Wallis Simpson.

Another Woman's Husband is a novel with two timelines. One follows the life of Wallis Simpson, the woman who stole the heart of Edward VIII leading to his subsequent abdication, whilst the other explores Princess Diana's death and its aftermath through the eyes of an onlooker. As an historical fiction fan I'll admit that I found Wallis's story the more engaging of the two, however it was incredibly interesting to read about events in 1997 from the perspective of a character who was caught up in the midst of it all. Dual narrative plots don't always work for me, but in this instance I felt that the connections between the two story lines were very cleverly plotted, and that the two narratives actually enriched each other. Both were easy to follow, and the seamless blend of fact and fiction made for captivating reading.

Before reading this novel I knew very little about Wallis Simpson - I didn't actually realise how little. She's a fascinating character, and from the very thorough research that has clearly gone into this I imagine that this fictional Wallis isn't all that far off from the real deal. A woman who thrives on society and attention, a woman who worked her way up in the world, a woman who got herself in too deep. Here her story is told through the eyes of her close friend Mary Kirk. The two met at summer camp in their teens, and remained in contact for the rest of their lives. Mary was the antithesis of Wallis, grounded and sensible, which is perhaps why they got along so well. Their friendship weathered so much drama, the majority of it true, that I'm amazed their story hasn't been fictionalised before now.

Gill Paul has a gift for historical fiction. She transports you to another time and place, with descriptions so vivid that they play out in your mind like you're watching them on screen. In this case you can see Wallis' inimitable sense of fashion, and taste the cocktails from her infamous KT hours. Gill has even used extracts and paraphrases from genuine letters penned by Wallis to truly capture her voice. Reading about her life is an immersive experience, and whilst it doesn't quite redeem her reputation, it does go some way to tell her side of the story.

Follow the blog tour for more news and reviews of this brilliant book!