17 Carnations: The Royals, the Nazis, and the Biggest Cover-Up in History

Edward VIII, son of George V and great-grandson of Queen Victoria, was perhaps the "first royal sex symbol of the modern age." His life and exploits were a source of fascination owing to his volatile emotions, relationships with seemingly unsavory characters, and unwillingness to become the royal that the public expected. Historian Morton (Diana: Her True Story) explores Prince Edward's most famous relationship: that with Wallis Simpson (later stylized Wallis, Duchess of Windsor), a twice-divorced American socialite whom he abdicated his throne to marry. Not only does the work look at this relationship, as well as others involving Wallis and Prince Edward it also examines their association with Germany in the years before and during World War II. Morton captures the interest (and scandals) of the era in a way that makes the book hard to put down.