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Before & after : the incredible story of the real-life Mrs Wilson Cover Image Book

Before & after : the incredible story of the real-life Mrs Wilson / Alison Wilson ; [foreword by Gordon and Nigel Wilson].

Wilson, Alison, 1920-2005 (author.). Wilson, Gordon, (writer of preface.). Wilson, Nigel, (writer of preface.). Wilson, Ruth, 1982- (contributor.).

Summary:

Aged nineteen, Alison McKelvie was a self-confessed romantic, immersed in books and poetry, and dreaming of beauty, truth and love. In 1940, whilst working as a secretary at MI6, Alison met Alexander Wilson. Thirty years her senior, Alexander was worldly and charismatic. An intense affair quickly led to marriage and two children. But the Wilsons' lives then spiralled into the depths of poverty. Alexander was sacked, imprisoned twice, and then declared bankrupt. His lack of reliability was a hefty emotional burden for Alison to bear. Nevertheless, she loved her husband unreservedly and stuck by him through thick and thin. In 1963, Alexander died suddenly of a heart attack. Alison's world imploded when she discovered that their life together had been built upon layer after layer of deception. Who was Alexander Wilson? How well had Alison really known him? Slowly the lies were unravelled: Alexander had been a novelist, spy and, devastatingly, a bigamist.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781472132369
  • ISBN: 147213236X
  • Physical Description: xvii, 170 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 23 cm
  • Publisher: London : Constable, 2019.

Search for related items by subject

Subject:
Wilson, Alison, 1920-2005 > Marriage.
Wilson, Alexander, 1893-1963 > Family.
Wilson, Alexander, 1893-1963.
Novelists, English > 20th century.
Impostors and imposture.
Genre:
Biographies.
Autobiographies.

Available copies

  • 0 of 1 copy available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
  • 0 of 1 copy available at McDowell County Public Library.

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Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Marion Library 941.082 WIL (Text) 37810435365910 Adult Nonfiction Checked out 08/25/2026

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MARC Record

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24510. ‡aBefore & after : ‡bthe incredible story of the real-life Mrs Wilson / ‡cAlison Wilson ; [foreword by Gordon and Nigel Wilson].
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300 . ‡axvii, 170 pages : ‡billustrations (black and white) ; ‡c23 cm
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520 . ‡aAged nineteen, Alison McKelvie was a self-confessed romantic, immersed in books and poetry, and dreaming of beauty, truth and love. In 1940, whilst working as a secretary at MI6, Alison met Alexander Wilson. Thirty years her senior, Alexander was worldly and charismatic. An intense affair quickly led to marriage and two children. But the Wilsons' lives then spiralled into the depths of poverty. Alexander was sacked, imprisoned twice, and then declared bankrupt. His lack of reliability was a hefty emotional burden for Alison to bear. Nevertheless, she loved her husband unreservedly and stuck by him through thick and thin. In 1963, Alexander died suddenly of a heart attack. Alison's world imploded when she discovered that their life together had been built upon layer after layer of deception. Who was Alexander Wilson? How well had Alison really known him? Slowly the lies were unravelled: Alexander had been a novelist, spy and, devastatingly, a bigamist.
60010. ‡aWilson, Alison, ‡d1920-2005 ‡xMarriage.
60010. ‡aWilson, Alexander, ‡d1893-1963 ‡xFamily.
60010. ‡aWilson, Alexander, ‡d1893-1963. ‡0(CARDINAL)807066
650 0. ‡aNovelists, English ‡y20th century.
650 0. ‡aImpostors and imposture. ‡0(CARDINAL)241939
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655 7. ‡aAutobiographies. ‡2lcgft ‡0(CARDINAL)334997
7001 . ‡aWilson, Gordon, ‡ewriter of preface. ‡0(CARDINAL)815061
7001 . ‡aWilson, Nigel, ‡ewriter of preface. ‡0(CARDINAL)815255
7001 . ‡aWilson, Ruth, ‡d1982- ‡econtributor. ‡0(CARDINAL)691944
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