Paul French – China, the roaring twenties and the making of Wallis Simpson
Join English author Paul French for an entertaining and eye-opening talk about his new book, which gives a fresh perspective on the infamous Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee whose marriage to king Edward VII caused a constitutional crisis and the king’s subsequent abdication. Informed by Paul’s extensive knowledge of China and his access to archives not available to previous biographers, his book reveals the full story of the transformative year Wallis Simpson spent in China. This is a time that hasn’t been fully recorded before but was absolutely fundamental to who Wallis was to become, and that sparked a thousand rumours about what she supposedly got up to in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing.
Paul French worked in Shanghai for many years. His award-winning book Midnight in Peking was a New York Times Bestseller and BBC Radio-4 Book of the Week. City of Devils: A Shanghai Noir received much praise with The Economist writing, ‘…in Mr French the city has its champion storyteller.’ Both Midnight and City of Devils are currently in development for film.
Our book partner Waterstones will have copies of My Lotus Year on sale with a special festival 10% discount, which Paul will sign. It is also available to buy at Waterstones Bangor, Lesley Bloomfield Shopping Centre – and you can still claim the 10% Festival discount if you present any Open House Festival 2025 ticket.
Please note this is a festival event and an Open House Festival Ticketsolve login will be required to be book tickets.
Please note this event is fully seated. If you have any accessibility requirements please get in touch with us here.
All ages welcome but under 18s accompanied by an adult.
