Interviu aparut in revista TABU octombrie 2014.
How you choose your subjects?
Obviously they have to intrigue you and
you have to want to know more but sadly these days you have to get the
publisher to agree that the world also wants to know more about them. In my
case it was the history of the period as much as anything and the sense that
nobody could really understand Wallis. She needed to be explained not seen
as a one dimensional caricature.
How long did you work on your book about
Duchess of Windsor?
In one sense just 3 years , in another
all my life as I specialized in history of the 1930s at University and have
read lots about her over many years.
Sometimes you seem to be a bit cruel . Do you think
the author must have a sympathy for her/his subject ?
I don’t think I am cruel but I think
until very recently when people were extremely deferential to the Royal Family
nobody dared say anything negative about Edward 8th. However I think
the present royal family admit that h3 was something of the black sheep of the
family and that once you understand how weak and defective a personality he
was, you are actually being very kind and sympathetic to Wallis. You are
turning the whole story on its head. I do think a biographer must have sympathy
with your subject to the extent that you care about them or you will end up
just bashing your person unfairly but I don’t think that sympathy should lead
you to create a warped version of the truth , More important than sympathy is a
feeling of responsibility to the truth.
Is it possible to create a bond between you and your
subject?
Yes but that is dangerous in some ways.
You must not believe you are the savior or the interpreter or the one person
who can tell their story as human beings are far too complicated and there are
many aspects of a personality. It is dangerous to identify with your subject, I
believe
How difficult was to do the research ? What involved
this ?
The research is fun…I spent a lot of
time in libraries in England and America, read a lot of diaries and other books
but I also went to Mexico to interview the son of Ernest Simpson which was
fascinating in my quest to understand Wallis and Ernest and why they let this
royal liaison take over their lives. Family
Was Wallis Simpson a good or a bad woman in your
opinion ?
No one is pure god or pure evil. She
was weak in some ways in that she craved money and jewellery and recognition
but it was created by her insecurity as a child. She became strong once she
realised there was no way out and that turned her into an unpleasant
personality as far as many people were concerned. But she was loyal and
believed that her new found status and money was in some ways recompense
for her mother’s struggle and insecurity. To understand is to forgive I
believe. Or it can be!
Do you own things which belonged to her ? Or do you
wish to have one?
No I don’t own anything and I don’t
crave jewellery, it isn’t part of my life style.
What was the most difficult thing or situation while
working on your book ?
It is the same as it always is; not to
hurt minor characters who happen to be swept up in the story and who never
expected to be part of history or to be public characters.
Are you a fashionista ?
I love beautiful clothes but no not a
fashionista as I spend most of my working day in trousers at my desk or in the
library and in yoga or gym clothes! But every so often I appear on TV and then
I have to look smart! I love to have something striking when publication comes
and I was lucky that the designer Roland Mouret made me a fabulous gold dress
for publication of THAT WOMAN which he called THAT DRESS because he was
inspired by Wallis rags to riches story.
What was always in the Duchess purse ? And in yours ?
Oh she had lipstick and compact and not
much else…me you don’t want to know my bag is so heavy…I have notebooks and
dozens of pens and pencils and a wallet and make up bag and keys and a book in
case I am stuck on the metro and a spare set of glasses and a phone and a diary
and much, much else JUST IN CASE!
Did you meet people whom are living at the same
addresses as the Duchess ? Are they disturbed in anyway about the fact ?
Or are they proud about this ?
No not really…Only Mohamed al Fayed who
lives in her Paris house but he is very proud of the association
Do you think the Duchess was a trend setter ?
Yes definitely what she wore others
copied …if they could e.g. the jewels she wore as dress clips became a fashion
accessory but were very expensive!
What you discovered at her and become something
for you ( a place, a thing, a custom)?
After finishing book did closed the door between her
and you ?
No not at all new material kept
emerging and other people told me things that I thought were probably true but
not sure about and they confirmed these. You can read about some of these on my
blog.
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Photos: Anne Sebba, and Cartier.
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