Scandalous misalliances: three novels that influenced the history of entire states
'18.02.2021'
Source: Lady.tut.by
While some celebrity novels are only discussed by people, others can influence the fate of entire nations. He tells about the amazing stories of relationships that were included not only in secular chronicles, but also in textbooks. Lady.tut.by.
Today we decided to recall the brightest love stories of the past. Novels in which passions boiled so that everyone around them was shaking, and the world inevitably changed. Unfortunately, they did not always end with a fabulous "and they lived happily ever after."
Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII
The history of the most famous misalliance in modern history received an incredible resonance, because the English monarch Edward VIII became the first and only king in the history of England who voluntarily abdicated the throne.
The reason was a passionate love for a twice-divorced American woman. How the family reacted to Edward's decision is well illustrated in The King's Speech, starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.
This situation itself was not just a scandal: for the British monarchy on the eve of the war, this was tantamount to the end of the world.
A trendsetter in men's fashion, a fearless rider, a star of parties, a dream of all ladies - that's what the American media called him. Edward traveled a lot and started one novel after another, and he loved to meet with married ladies. This way of life could not help but excite his father-king, who usually said: "In less than a year after my death, this boy will ruin his life."
By the age of forty, Europe's most elegant and richest groom was still a bachelor. It was at that moment that he met the American Bessie Wallis Warfield. This meeting determined the fate of not only Edward himself, but the entire British Empire.
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As Wallis's biographers of the royal family described it, "she was an authoritarian person," and he "needed a woman who could shout at him." The lovers did not hide their feelings, even despite Edward's status and Wallis's marital status. They appeared together on the streets, at social events and in restaurants. The royal family did not even think that this shameful hobby would last long. But when it became clear that the romance was dragging on, attempts were made to hide the details of the prince's relationship from the public.
Edward proposed to Bessie Wallis Warfield in 1936 at a party of mutual friends in Scotland. The beloved stood under the moon in a picturesque place called the "secret garden".
"The crisis of state power, which arose because of the abdication of the British king from the throne, originated in the secret garden of this mansion," British newspapers later wrote.
In January 1936, King George V died and Edward ascended the throne. At this time, Wallis filed for divorce. Neither the royal family nor parliament wanted to hear about Edward's legal alliance with the American. Edward was presented with a choice: either the throne or Wallis. His choice was unambiguous: the price for love was the abdication of the English throne.
On December 10, 1936, Edward VIII delivered his famous speech to the people.
“You all know the circumstances that made me abdicate the throne. But I want you to understand that in making this decision, I did not forget about my country and empire ... But you must also believe that it is impossible for me to fulfill my duty as a king the way I would like it, without help and support of the woman I love ... ”- said the monarch.
This union was happy, the couple remained together until the very end: in 1972, Edward died of cancer.
Eva Duarte and Juan Peron
In Argentina, Evita is a common noun. The most famous first lady of the twentieth century, the wife of President Juan Peron, went, it seems, an unthinkable path for a woman of that time.
Without holding any official position, she enjoyed incredible influence. The daughter of a maid and a farmer, she became an icon for hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans who forgave her everything.
Some called her “Robin Hood of the XNUMXs”, “a saint for all the poor,” others called “Argentina's cancer”, which had worn out the country's budget for diamonds and luxurious dresses from leading European couturiers. Despite this, she still cannot be forgotten in the country. In many Argentine houses you can find portraits of a golden-haired woman, and in front of her mausoleum there are always candles burning and armfuls of fresh flowers.
At the age of 15, dreaming of becoming a famous actress, the girl left home. She was not doing very well with the theater, but her modeling career developed quite actively. Her face flashed in advertisements and on the covers of magazines. Eva also had a pleasant voice and worked on the radio as an announcer, and in 1943 she played leading roles in a radio play about famous women of different eras.
In 1944, Eva meets Colonel Juan Peron, who initiated a military coup in Argentina. Legend has it that the young actress and the colonel became lovers on the very first day they met. Peron might not have had so many ambitions if not for Eva, who made him believe that he would definitely become the head of government. Peron appeared openly with his young girlfriend, shocking the officers with his connection with the model.
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Peron's army comrades-in-arms, dissatisfied with the colonel's too rapid rise, as well as the fact that he, without embarrassment, openly appears at receptions with his mistress, arrested him in early October 1945. This caused huge popular unrest, and when Peron was released from prison on October 17, all Argentina was jubilant. This date is still celebrated today as the Day of the Liberation of Peron by the people. Five days after their release, the Colonel and Eva were married.
And since that time, Eva is increasingly included in the political life of Argentina. She personifies a woman of a new formation - an Argentine woman who stands on the same level with men. It was new, unusual, powerful, given that the Argentines at that time did not even have the right to vote.
Eva, along with her husband, becomes the idol of the crowd. Her portraits are everywhere, her voice sounds from the stands in support of her husband, and Eva finds such words that the people trust her unconditionally. She, having no official position, listens to complaints from workers, consults on their issues - and gives the petitioners an answer. It was largely thanks to Eva and her titanic work that Argentines already in 1947 received the right to vote.
Peron was incredibly proud of his wife and repeatedly repeated that without her he would not have succeeded. Unfortunately, this story was short-lived: already in 1950, Eva showed the first signs of the disease. She brushes them off, but by 1952 it is too late. Eva died of uterine cancer at the age of 33.
Juan Perón grieved for his wife for a long time, but ordinary Argentines mourned her no less than him. A book was written about Evita's life, a musical was staged and a film was made. Remarkably, Peron's next wife, Maria Estela Martinez de Peron, a former nightclub dancer, became the first female president in history after his death.
Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier
Some call this relationship an alliance made in heaven, others a poorly thought out business deal. But somehow, the date April 19, 1956 was a turning point in the history of Monaco.
By the time of her meeting with the prince of the tiny principality of Monaco, the American actress and movie star Grace Kelly had already become famous. Her film partners were crowd idols such as Clark Gable, Harry Cooper and Marlon Brando. Grace had an impeccable appearance, and before her film career, she managed to work as a model. By the age of twenty-six, the actress managed to become the favorite of the cult director Hitchcock, receive many marriage proposals, including from the Shah of Iran himself.
Behind the external coldness, Grace hid a hot, carried away and impetuous nature, and several times she was almost ready to agree. But something suggested that her great love was still ahead, and Grace refused everyone.
Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly met in 1955 in Cannes. Then the star of the films "Mogambo" and "Country Girl" (for playing in it the actress was awarded an "Oscar") led the American delegation at the Cannes Film Festival.
Grace's agenda included the usual business of a movie star: choosing a fashionable image, meeting with journalists, attending a gala dinner in her honor. And a joint photo shoot with the Prince of Monaco for Paris Match is an item that, as the close actresses say, Grace really wanted to cross out of her busy schedule.
Prince Rainier later admitted that, entering the hall where the meeting was to take place, he was at first sight fascinated by the way Grace rehearsed a curtsy in front of the mirror. Finally, they met and, as legend says, fell in love with each other at first sight.
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After this meeting, a stormy romantic correspondence began between the lovers. Six months later, Renier flew to New York to ask Grace's parents for a blessing and propose to her. Right in the middle of the bustling city of Rainier III, the Duke de Valentinois, Count Carladez, Baron Buy, Ser Matignon, Senor Saint-Remy, Count Torigny, Duke Mazarin gave Grace a ring asking her to marry him.
But in addition to romance, there was an undoubtedly pragmatic aspect in this union. The Principality of Monaco was withering away, it was necessary to attract new investments - and marriage with a Hollywood star was very welcome.
Prince Rainier was a good politician, and therefore his calculation to attract an Oscar-winning Hollywood beauty to the principality became one of the most successful PR moves in history. The fairytale wedding in 1956 not only revived interest in Monaco, but turned the region into one of the most prestigious on the planet.
The country idolized its new princess: Grace gave Monaco heirs and new economic opportunities. The influx of tourists and investment has turned the troubled region into a thriving financial center. Grace's life was like a fairy tale: luxurious outfits, shooting in palaces for glossy publications, international travel. But in the name of this she had to make the most serious sacrifice - to abandon the career of an actress. From now on, she was to play only one role - the wife of the ruler of Monaco.
Only once did Grace try to break this condition when Alfred Hitchcock offered her a role in one of her new paintings. The prince was inclined to show understanding and let his wife go to the shooting. However, the people of the Principality of Monaco were sharply opposed to this venture. As a result, Grace stayed at home. According to the testimony of relatives, she almost never left her room for a week, for her this last missed chance to plunge into her beloved world of cinema again turned out to be a real tragedy.
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Today it is already clear that the strong marriage of Grace and Rainier was based not so much on all-consuming love, as on friendship, respect and loyalty to their own status. Grace seemed like a model princess: always elegant, she attended all the protocol events, did charity work and behaved like an ideal wife. However, very soon it became clear that the principality that once seemed to her as a paradise had become a golden cage for her.
Illusions collapsed one after another. Grace was also disappointed by her own children, who refused to play little prince and princess. In the end, it was at the time of a quarrel with her youngest daughter, Grace, who was driving a car, got into a car accident. The next day, September 14, 1982, despite the titanic efforts of the best doctors, the Princess of Monaco died.
Prince Rainier never married again, and their love story formed the basis of touching novels and films.
