The article discusses Wallis Simpson’s controversial legacy, particularly her year spent in China, which was rife with scandal and political upheaval. Paul French, author of "Her Lotus Year," aims to reevaluate the vast rumors concerning Simpson’s life in Shanghai, positioning her experiences within a significant historical context. The time she spent in China was marked by warlordism, strikes, and social turmoil, ultimately suggesting that these experiences played a crucial role in shaping her public image. French argues for a more nuanced understanding of her life beyond the tabloid narratives that clouded her reputation during the abdication crisis.
"The British tabloids particularly repeatedly bring up rumours of her sexual infidelities in Shanghai, suggested involvement in everything from prostitution to gambling rings..."
"It's a really pivotal year in China's modern history between the end of the Qing and creation of the republic in 1911 and then the Japanese onslaught on China in 1937."
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