Entitlement 
Jenny Diski
- Dangerous Muse: A Life of Caroline Blackwood by Nancy Schoenberger
At the age of 86 and with a broken hip, the Marchesa Casa-Maury was interviewed by Caroline Blackwood for her book about the last dreadful days – months, years rather – of the Duchess of Windsor. The Marchesa had been the Duke’s mistress for fifteen years when Wallis Simpson arrived on the scene. Blackwood explained to the old lady how the Duchess was being sequestered in Paris by her lawyer, Maître Suzanne Blum, who was obsessed with her, and that she was officiously being kept alive, although rumoured to be comatose, to have turned black and to have shrivelled to the size of a doll. The ancient Marchesa began shaking with laughter and continued until tears ran down her cheeks. She managed to pull herself together, but as Blackwood was leaving, started to laugh again as she tried to apologise for her behaviour.
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Jenny Diski is writing a book about St Helena. A novel, Apology for the Woman Writing, is coming out in November.
Other articles by this contributor:
Don’t think about it · The Trouble with Sonia Orwell
A keen horseman with a new pair of green suede chaps is guaranteed to ride into the sunset · A Slight and Delicate Creature: The Memoirs of Margaret Cook
Diary · On Not Liking South Africa
Diary · The Friendly Spider Programme
Diary · Jenny Diski tries to stay awake
Jowls are available · ‘Second Life’
It’s so beautiful · V is for Vagina
Flowery, rustic, tippy, smokey · Jenny Diski drinks a cup of tea
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