Abdictation / Juliet Nicolson / 342 pages

Abdictation is a novel set in England just prior to the abdictation of the king to marry Wallis Simpson.  The story is centered around two main characters, nineteen year old May Thomas and American spinster Evangeline Nettlefold whose lives intersect with the the storyline of the king and Wallis Simpson.  May and her brother, Sam, are born and raised in Barbados, but move to England for a better life.  May gets a job as a secretary and driver for Sir Philip Blunt.  Evangeline is a girlhood friend and classmate from Baltimore of Wallis Simpson.  Enangeline's mother passes away and she finds herself in financial need and relying on relatives when Wallis reaches out to her and invites her to visit. The king's story is a backdrop to the stories of May and Evangeline.