{"product_id":"the-last-of-the-duchess-9780345802637","title":"The Last of the Duchess","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Last of the Duchess \u003c\/i\u003eis the account of Caroline Blackwood's attempts to write a final article on The Duchess of Windsor, who spent her last years under the thumb of her eccentric lawyer. - \"A sharply observed (and sometimes very funny) portrait of the frivolous world of wealth and luxury inhabited by the Windsors.\" --Michiko Kakutani, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In 1980, Lady Caroline Blackwood was given what she thought would be a simple task: write a \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e article on the aging Duchess of Windsor, who was said to be convalescing in her rambling French mansion. Unknown to Blackwood, what began as an easy assignment would become one of the most troubling experiences of her writing career, and would launch her into a cat-and-mouse game of wits with the Duchess's grande dame of a protector, Suzanne Blum. Fiercely protective of her client, Maitre Blum refused to let Blackwood near the Duchess, spinning elaborate excuses as to why she was unavailable but threatening to sue anyone who dared suggest that the woman who once inspired a king to abdicate his crown was in less than the best of health. Blackwood turned her experiences into this riveting and excoriating modern classic about the frailties of old age, the foibles of society, and the dual-edged nature of celebrity. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Beguiling. . . . Blackwood is witty, understated and perceptive.\" --\u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/02\/2012\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780345802637\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 320\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.52lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.51h x 4.89w x 0.64d","brand":"Caroline Blackwood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52107749654709,"sku":"9780345802637","price":14.41,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_d2a6cbab-607e-4d3e-b819-8df6bcbb65ef.jpg?v=1765862129","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-last-of-the-duchess-9780345802637","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}