Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #218246 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-21
• Binding: Hardcover
• 464 pages

Synopsis
With the authority missing from all previous accounts, acclaimed royal biographer Sarah Bradford delivers a complex and explosive study of the greatest icon of the twentieth century: Diana, Princess of Wales. With access to those closest to Diana and her select circle, Sarah Bradford casts aside the gossip and lies and takes us to the very heart of the Royal Family, talking to those who know them intimately, and finally separating the myth from the truth of the Diana years. Drawing on remarkable new interviews and first-hand accounts from friends, courtiers and employees, "Diana" paints an extraordinary portrait of a woman riddled with contradictions. Magnetic, affectionate, compassionate, stylish, and dutiful, on one hand; destructive, needy, self-absorbed, and consumed with insecurity and suspicion, on the other.

"Diana" follows the blighted childhood, which left her feeling she was an unloved disappointment; the old-fashioned courtship which saw her capture the Prince of Wales; the transformation of an unworldly teenager into an emotionally demanding yet adoring wife and mother; the damage caused by the ever present spectre of Camilla Parker Bowles; and the eventual collapse of the doomed marriage once hailed as the ultimate fairytale. Bradford examines Diana's relationships with her lovers, staff and friends as well as her children, husband and in-laws. She also charts Diana's profound commitment to her charities and her rare connection and empathy with all those she met; the struggle to find an identity after the separation from Charles; and the final, complicated year as a single woman. From the bestselling author of "Elizabeth: A Biography of Her Majesty The Queen" - Sarah Bradford's "Diana" is the most revealing, insightful and accurate portrait of the Princess, and her continued impact on the Monarchy.

Customer Reviews

I've read every Diana book published, and this is one of the best.
So many of the books written on Diana have glaringly obvious errors, but this one is different. Sarah Bradford has thoroughly researched her subject, and presents a very balanced view of the Princess. In years to come if my grandchildren want to know about Diana Princess of Wales, this is the book I will tell them to read. The book shows both sides of the Princess, she was a very human Princess and that is why she was so loved, and it's important that history knows this. I can highly recommend Sarah Bradfords book, and knowing how well researched and detailed the book is, it makes me want to read more of Sarahs books.

A bit of a disappointment
I was excited when I saw Bradford had chosen to tackle Diana; her biog of Jackie Onassis is one of the best I have ever read, but I was left disappointed by this. Where the JKO book was brilliantly researched and written so that even those without any knowledge of the Kennedys could get to grips with the subject matter Diana feels as if it is glued together tittle-tattle and newspaper cuttings. There is little to enlighten here.

It also seems to be quite sloppily written which is a surprise. At one point Alistair Campbell is mentioned without any explanation as to who he is. Whilst a recognisable character to British readers (and not all of them at that...) who else will know who he is? Because of this, Diana will not stand the test of time or be of any use to readers in future years.

To Bradford's credit she remains disapassionate towards he subject matter throughout and due to that no one comes out of it looking particularly good. However, it is hard to surmise what her ultimate aim was in publishing this only 10 years after Diana's death when the dust has still not settled on the events of 1997. Maybe this book would have been better a few years down the line when more people who have more to offer were willing to talk.

A little dispointed
The book is a very well researched book and the author wrote it with her own interviews with many insiders who witnessed the true events. But too many "a courtier" or "a friend" without acknowledging their ture names, certainly brings me many frustrations about this book.

Sarah Bradford is a creditbale royal biographer, but I want true information from clearer sources without questioning the reliablility of these interviewees. One more thing, I do wonder Sarah Bradford has bias against Prince Charles or not.

I feel that royal watchers are divided in three camps: for Charles, against Charles, and the third party authors. I doubt her position and she presented a balanced picuture of Diana but I don't feel her presenting a balanced picture of Charles which I regarded very important. Also not too much details about Camilla.

So the author may do it intentionally. She wanted to give us a balanced picture of Diana so she only focused on Diana, For me, seeing a clearer picture of the three on the same stage can give me more views about Charles-Camilla-Diana' characters and give fair judgments.