From Publishers Weekly
Although By Order of the President received favorable notices, Kilian's new book does little to live up to its glowing jacket copy. In this historical "what-if" novel, Edward, Prince of Wales sets off on a pleasure cruise in 1935, blithely ignoring the political storms wracking Europe as the Nazi regime flexes its power. Traveling with him on an ill-fated luxury oceanliner are his sharp-tongued American mistress, Wallis Simpson, and a host of bored, dissolute English aristocrats, including Lord and Lady Mountbatten. Also on board is a lovelorn, yet supremely cynical journalist, C. Jamieson Spencer, who is hoping to write a story on fellow passenger Charles Lindbergh. He watches, then joins the royal hangers-on in their tedious rounds of gaiety and bed-hopping, while Wallis and Edward spoon and spat, and German and Russian agents circle the group. Their collective mettle is testedand found wantingwhen the ship nearly burns to the waterline, and the royal party briefly takes to the lifeboats. The excitement stirred up in these calamitous scenes soon dies away, however. While Kilian's painstaking research on the speech and behavior of his celebrated characters is not to be faulted, its application lacks spark from the first and only proves that truth and fiction can be equally dull.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Among those on board the doomed ship Wilhelmina in 1935 are historical as well as fictional characters: Edward, Prince of Wales, traveling anonymously, with Lord and Lady Mountbatten and Wallis Warfield Simpson; two Prussians sent to encourage the Prince's German sympathies; a Chicago newspaperman assigned to cover Charles Lindbergh, thought to be aboard; and many others. The novel starts slowly, as the stage is set for each participant. Dialogue often seems awkward and contrived. The suspense peaks somewhat short of the voyage's and novel's conclusion. Perhaps for readers interested in the era or fans of Kilian's works (e.g., By Order of the President) . Ellen Kaye Stoppel, Drake Univ. Law Lib., Des Moines
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
