Customer Reviews

The Day Diana Died (Thorndike Core)

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Given the lurid tabloid journalism, to which Diana was subjected during her lifetime, this account is a well-written and interesting overview of her life and her tragic death.

Despite the title the book covers much more than just the day of her death. It gives an overview of her whirlwind romance with Dodi as well as the stormy relationship that she had with the rest of her royal ex-relatives. If this is the first Diana book that you read there is more than enough background material here to make sure that you do not feel left out. Even if you are a royal-phile with a stack of books on the trials and tribulations of the Windsor family, there is plenty here to keep you avidly turning the pages.

In addition to Diana's fateful last day there is extensive coverage of the immediate aftermath of the accident and the extensive, if ineffectual, care that she was given at the seen. The standard care given in car crashes on Paris soil might be viewed as a scandal in itself.

Christopher Anderson is able to present to us the reaction of the Royal family ensconced in Scotland at the time, the reaction of her ex-husband and of the Queen. Her Majesty retreated into duty and protocol trying even to prevent her son from making the journey to retrieve Diana's body. The Wales' sons were kept out of the limelight and did not learn for some time about the enormous outpouring of grief surrounding the accident.

This was an event that evoked the sympathy of the world. In light of the events of 9/11/2001 it might now seem foolish that we could ever expend so much grief on one person. But I think that this book helps to show how in life and in death Diana was the lens through which so much emotion the world over was brought into focus.

I found this book to be incredibly informative and a fascinating read, which I read almost in one sitting. Instead of the usual tawdry gossip of most Diana biographies, it describes exactly, and in fascinating detail, about the events that led up to her death, the day she died, and the ensuing mourning that followed. We are made privy to details we never knew, and they are very essential details, in my opinion.

To me, the most interesting and ironic part of this entire tragedy is that Diana lay in the hospital in Paris, dead, with nothing to wear. Prince Charles and Diana's two sisters were on their way from London, and the world's most famous and well-dressed woman literally had nothing to wear. The clothes she had been wearing when she died had been torn from her body by doctors who were attempting to revive her. Her luggage had been whisked back to London by a paranoid Mohammad Feyed. And, here was the world's most glamourous woman, at death, being forced to wear a dress donated by the wife of the English Ambassador to France. This irony is just one of many sad ironies and twists of fate in this account.

We learn of the behind-the-scenes machinations leading up to Diana's funeral, the conflict between Prince Charles and his mother, the Queen, and how Diana's boys reacted. Prince Charles is definitely painted in a much brighter light than ever before. I was absolutely fascinated by this book, and I think it is well worth reading.

I have found it very hard to put this book down! Christopher Anderson has written a wonderful book looking at the months leading up to death of the Princess of Wales. His book is populated with quotes and insights from those closest to the Princess and gives a good, in depth, look at the romance between Princess Diana and Dodi Fayad. Of particular interest is the reaction of Princess Diana's former husband, Prince Charles, upon learning of the Princess' death. Also, the reaction of Queen Elizabeth, who is more concerned with the royal jewels than with the death of her grandsons' mother!! A MUST READ if you have followed the Princess of Wales and have questions surrounding her death.

My wife first picked up this book and was giving me bits of info as she read it. Well I got interested in the details so I read it after she completed it. I would never have bought this book on my own but I must say that I really enjoyed it. I think because there was so much news coverage that I really liked learning more of the details that did not always come out in the coverage. My wife said that there was not too much new in this book, but for me there really was, as I have not followed the story as closely as my wife. What you have here is all the facts put together in one book that is an easy to read review. I would recommend it if you are interested in the topic.

When I first heard about this book coming out, I was afraid it would be a tasteless and exploitative piece of paparazzi trash exploiting the death of a beautiful woman. However, I was more than impressed and pleased with the way the author combines hour by hour events on the day Diana died with background on her life and relationships. Diana was one of my favorite celebrities ever, not just for her beauty and elegance but for what she survived through and the fact she was such a good mother. This book combines all of those elements and also gives us a window into what happened on the day she died. One of the only tasteful and well-written books to come out after her death...

Out of the many many books I've read since Diana's death 4 years ago, this has to be the best and most informative. Just reading about her in the hospital after the accident was enough to start my water works up. I recommend a box of tissues at your side. Apart from the emotional factor of this book, it's also very interesting to read about Dodi's father and his thoughts. This is a well researched account of the day Diana died and I recommend it.

Excellent book. Easy reading. Couldn't put it down. Not only informative about Diana and her life/death, but also a fasinating glimpse of the Queen and her heirs. A must read for any Diana/royal fans.

I have had a very hard time putting this book down! Christopher Anderson has written a book that captures the final months of Diana's life and includes comments and quotes from friends who shed light on the Princess' romance with Dodi Fayad and the shock of all those close to her when they learned of her death. Very interesting is the reaction of her former husband, Prince Charles, but also the completely unsympathetic reaction of Queen Elizabeth, who appears to be more concerned with royal jewelry, than with that fact that her grandsons' mother is dead. The book is a fast read, but fills in many of the blanks surrounding the death of Diana. If you were moved by the death of Diana, this is a MUST HAVE book

If you are a Diana fan, I recommend reading this book. The author tells in depth what went on at the hospital. I look at Prince Charles in a whole new light, knowing that he really did care about Diana and the pain he went through on that day. I cried reading this book and so will you. It really is a minute by minute review of the day she died. Such a tragic end to a beautiful person.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book. The author covers not only the actions of Diana and Dodi before their fateful night, but the actions of what everyone else was doing at the time of the accident and at the time of her death. This is an easy read, as it reads like an article in the Enquirer. And yes, I found myself transfixed, against my better judgement. I have some questions about the authenticity of some of the information in the book. After all, who is really going to tell the author that Prince Charles was wearing blue pajamas at the time he received the call about Diana. And, I admit to learning more about the actual accident than I wanted to know. All in all, I would recommend the book, but keep in mind that not all the information may be fact.