I’m not a royalist in any way, but I do enjoy reading about some of the more interesting characters in the royal circle. Wallis Simpson ticks that box; enigmatic in every way and an individual who changed the course of history. I was aware of her time spent in China but had read little about the detail. Her Lotus Year fills that gap, drawing on extensive research to recount her activities during that period in her life. I was certainly unaware of her diplomatic role and if true, it adds an additional perspective to her life. Rather like Pamela Harriman, Churchill’s daughter, Simpson was a lady much maligned throughout her life. Dismissed as a scheming social climber who brought the British monarchy close to breaking point, she was largely reviled thereafter, not least by the current royals.

This is an interesting and compressive read that adds a different dimension to the lady. I remain intrigued by her and it’s easy to see how she was able to influence and control a stupid and ineffectual monarch.

Before marrying former King Edward, Wallis Simpson spent a year in China. During this time, she struggled to get away from a bad marriage and find herself. I have to admit that this book was a bit of a yawn. I never really got to know the characters and found the story dry. I struggled to get through the pages before finally putting the book down halfway through. Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

Wallis simpson is a charcater that is both fascinating and intriguing,

I have always loved reading about Royal women and this historical account of her time in China is just amazing.

I loved the walk through her life while she was going through a troubled time with her husband before she became the Duchess of Windsor. .

Wallis had a love for China, the food, the culture and I loved how we learned how she became the woman that changed the world.

It is a fascinating insight and I adored reading..

I enjoyed getting to read about Wallis Simpson and her time in China, it was everything that I wanted and thought it worked as nonfiction book. Paul French was able to bring Wallis Simpson to life in this and was wonderfully written.