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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
first real biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, October 12, 2006
This review is from: Diana (Hardcover)
This is the first proper biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, as opposed to memoirs by former employees (Jephson, Wharfe, Burrell) or more or less ax-grinding efforts by journalists (Morton, Seward, Junor). Bradford, an experienced biographer, has produced a sound and workmanlike book, and without sacrificing balance or accuracy or contending that the late princess was a flawless biped makes the best pro-Diana case to date. After reading Bradford it is hard to deny that the Royal Family and their courtiers, the British Establishment, and especially the Prince of Wales entered into this marriage in deeply bad faith, and covertly slandered Diana when it turned sour. Clarence House trotted out Princes William and Harry to denounce Jephson, Wharfe and Burrell as traducers of their mother's memory; it would be interesting to hear their spin on Bradford's far more (justly) damning portrayal of their father. Naturally this book relies more on oral interviews than archival research, and (with the occasional and unavoidable exception "Private information") Bradford plays fair with the reader in revealing her sources. She singles out Burrell for skepticism, perhaps reasonably, but otherwise appears to take a very trusting attitude to equally debatable sources (showing indulgence to Jephson, Wharfe, and - surprisingly - James Hewitt). I would like to believe that this favoritism was on their merits and not due to the fact that (judging from the notes) Jephson, Wharfe and Hewitt agreed to be interviewed by Bradford and Burrell didn't. One Bob Woodward is enough. My first reading of this book revealed two errors. Nicholas Soames, one of Diana's least savory detractors, is said to be Sir Winston Churchill's great-grandson; he was his grandson. Bill and Hillary Clinton are listed as attending Diana's funeral; the Senator attended but not the President. Neither of these is a hanging offense, but both should have been corrected in the editing process, and one wonders what other, less obvious errors are present. This is too good a book to be disfigured by such petty mistakes.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superlative biography of a truly remarkable woman, October 6, 2006
This review is from: Diana (Hardcover)
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and found it an extremely well researched and thoughtful biography of the late Princess of Wales. Diana's life is chronicled from her life as the youngest daughter in an influential, aristocratic British family to her untimely death in Paris in 1997. Diana indeed was from a notable family and of which she was rightly proud. The ill fated union of her parents is described as well as the impact of their turbulent divorce on their young children, especially Diana. Diana was said to be very much influenced by her paternal grandmother whose charitable works and compassion were passed on to her granddaughter (Diana's paternal grandmother looked remarkably like Diana as well--one of the portraits shown in the illustrations demonstrates this--it is a rather striking resemblance). The center of the book is Diana's relationship with the Prince of Wales, their courtship, engagement, marriage, separation and divorce. The author maintains that Charles loved her; however, oddly enough she doesn't talk about Charles saying he never loved Diana to his biographer Dimbleby in 1994. My opinion is that he didn't love her and was attracted to her. Nobody in love would have allowed another woman to interfere in the relationship with his wife (my opinion). Another thing I would question is that the author maintains that though Diana said Charles rarely got in touch with her when she was on her pre engagement announcement trip with her mother and stepfather to Australia; oddly enough Bradford doesn't refer to Frances Shand Kydd's authorized biography where Frances witnessed Charles' neglect first hand. I am surprised Ms. Bradford didn't use Frances Shand Kydd's biography as a source. Bradford doesn't spare Camilla Parker Bowles as some of Diana's less sympathetic chroniclers have (e.g. Seward and Junor). Bradford does emphasize how Mrs. Parker Bowles' hold on the Prince of Wales eroded the Wales' marriage. She chronicles how Mrs. Parker Bowles did go to the media with "her side" of the story--which does refute the "discreet" Camilla spin. And reading up to events leading up to the wedding it seemed that everyone but 19 going on 20 Lady Diana knew about Camilla's influence but didn't warn her. Bradford mentions for instance how Princess Margaret wondered if Camilla would give up the Prince after his marriage. The Princess of Wales close relationship with her boys is perhaps one of the most touching parts of the book. Diana is depicted as an excellent, caring mother who wanted the best for her sons. Diana's personal relationships are covered as well. The author maintains that Hewitt and Diana loved each other and Diana was deeply let down by Hewitt's telling all to the press and via his cooperation with Anna Pasternak who wrote Princess in Love. The author agrees with Burrell's recent account that the real love of Diana was not Dodi Fayed but Hasnet Khan. The author does emphasize Diana's great role in charitable work and that she was always interested in this from her days as a schoolgirl to her death in 1997. The author uses interviews, Diana's own words from the Morton tapes and Settelen interviews and other books written and articles written about the late Princess. The illustrations are excellent. Reading this book was both positive and negative. Positive because Bradford shows just how special Diana was and negative because I felt said that she is no longer with us today. Though I disagree with some things that are said, overall this is a wonderful book. I recommend this along with Anne Edwards' Ever After and Diana: Story of a Princess and the books by Jephson, Wharfe, and Burrell.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
She Won't Go Quietly, November 30, 2006
This review is from: Diana (Hardcover)
This may be the best, most comprehensive book on Diana yet. I've read many biographies about the late Princess and this is the first to project a balanced portrait. There's plenty of blame to go around in the failed marriage of the Prince and Princess - his selfishness, her neediness, and of course the Camilla problem. The sections on her early childhood give an insight into her damaged psyche. It may be the first book to fully discuss the Oliver Hoare affair and those dreadful prank phone calls. I agree with other reviewers that there are a few errors - including the assertion that Prince William fractured his skull by being hit with a golf ball - I believe it was a golf club. All in all I'm very pleased with this book and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Diana's life.
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