Customer Reviews

Diana : Story of a Princess

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I didn't hold out much hope for another Diana book, but this one really is different. it seems very fair and well written and it makes a lot of interesting points about the whole charity scene that Diana and other celebrities involve themselves in. I think I agree with Christopher Hitchens that a lot of it is cynical and tacky, but you get both sides in this book and there's no doubt that Diana did make a difference on one or two occasions and she had a talent for meeting and greeting the needy. The Angola story is very touching. In terms of her marriage, I found all the insider quotes from the royal officials very revealing. You begin to understand just what had gone on and why the whole thing was doomed from the start - competely different expectations of what a royal wife was for. So, all in all, not only far, far better than anticipated, but actually thought provoking.

Tireless humanitarian and inspirationally anti-establishment figure? Or beautiful but shallow woman who loved nothing more than a good photo-op and seeing her soap-operaish life grab headlines? Most of us lean heavily toward one of the above perspectives of Princess Diana. Unfortunately, it seems that books dealing with the late princess also tend to be written in this black-and-white way.

Yet in "Diana: Story of a Princess," authors Craig and Clayton offer material that paints a refreshingly different portrait of Diana. It certainly isn't black-and-white; instead, it emphasizes the complex and elusive character of this eternally puzzling person.

The biography begins with Diana's childhood, and although it may initially seem a slightly dry chronicle of Spencer family history and aristocratic titles, it quickly beomces much more compelling. It is obvious that the authors have put a tremendous amount of research into the book-this research translates into well-detailed account of every pivotal moment in her life. "Diana, Story of a Princess" is, if nothing else, a complete "life portrait" that Diana fans won't want to be without.

In my mind, however, this bio is much more than a simple chronicle of events because of the widely varying views and accounts presented about the princess. Everyone knows how Diana was a victim of the Charles-Camilla relationship, but does anyone know the disadvantages Charles faced as he entered the marriage? We all have heard of what a selfless charity worker Diana was, but did we ever know of her supposedly "darker" side during this sort of work? This book explores both "sides" of these issues and others. Through facts, first-person accounts, and their own intelligent, interesting, and balanced commentary, the authors attempt not to trash Diana or transform her into a saint, but simply to raise and explore questions about her true character.

Overall, this biography is certainly a success. It manages to be generally informative and intriguing-while avoiding the pitfalls of being too one-sided or sensational.

What I particularly like about this book is that it destroys the whole 'Diana was mad' thesis (which you'll find, for instance, in Sally Bedell Smith's book - which I found silly and over the top.) This one explains, in detail that I found amazing, just how the whole mental health smear started. There's plenty of evidence here that Diana was perfectly sane and happy before she married into 'that family.' And - unlike many Diana books I've looked at - this does try not to take sides. Diana herself comes in for a lot of criticism, especially in the last few years of her life. But overall you do get a real sense of the pressures she was under and the quite magical things she did sometimes, right up to the end of her life. The landmine section is very touching. I'd recommend this book, in fact, to anyone interested in finding out about the real Diana rather than the 'spun' Diana.

This book is one of the better ones out there. Most book writers spend their time trying to trash the Princess or the Royal Family(sometimes both), this book is fairly even handed. They do appear to have made an effort to talk to people or research material representing both sides of the story, most unusual. I do think the authors give the Hewitts, Patrick Jephson, and Mohamed Al Fayed a little too much credit but perhaps even there the balance is at least close as many books don't even try to do that. I do wish I could see the companion video program.

"Almost four years since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales it is time for a balanced, scholarly biography of a woman who made such an impact on the British people, indeed on the people of the world. Authors Tim Clayton and Phil Craig have written just such a book. Carefully researched, it draws on the resources of those who worked with her, met her, and loved or distrusted her. Perhaps now we can put her life, her relationships and her talents into perspective and gauge the effect she had on the British monarchy and on how we see its developing role. An informative and gripping account of an historical catalyst."

"Diana: Story of a Princess", gives me a lot of detail of which I had been unaware. It makes for quick and compelling reading and presents the material in chronological order. It has struck me as an evenhanded telling of the stories of both Diana and Charles. Since the book is an adjunct of the video it would be helpful if one could view the video as well as read the book.

"Diana: Story of a Princess" is an excellent book about Princess Diana etc. that seems fair to all parties. This book chronicles the lives of Charles and Diana, their meeting, courtship, marriage, separation, divorce, lives after divorce and Diana's tragic death.

This book is very interesting. It offers viewpoints from many different individuals on various aspects of Diane and Charles' story. I have read several books about Princess Di - all of them fascinating - though this book ("Diana: Story of a Princess") really gets into the aspect of the press and their role in Diana's life.

Through this book I was able to envision a very vulnerable Diana. I also saw a person who loved much and needed much love. Princess Di was a very sensitive woman and I believe this quality made her the 'Queen of Hearts' and 'The People's Princess.'

This new book is designed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Princess Diana's birth. It is a more balanced account than those of Penny Junor, Sally Bedell Smith, and Ingrid Seward and refutes their allegations of Princess Diana's supposed Borderline Personality Disorder. Based on interviews with friends and acquaintances, this book takes readers from her earliest years to her death and the subsequent massive tribute by the public. The authors interviewed individuals who stated that anyone with Borderline Personality Disorder could not have faced the challenges that Diana faced throughout her life nor could have achieved as much. The book honestly appraises the marriage and does not place blame on one of the parties for the breakup as did some of the other books. Princess Diana and Prince Charles are depicted as human characters, with both positive and negative sides to their natures. The underlying message in this book is that Princess Diana might have led a happier life had she chosen another path and chosen another marriage partner. The basic incompatibility of the royal couple is very evident in this (and earlier accounts) of their marriage.

The authors cover extensively the post-divorce years. There are disagreements among the Princess's friends to this day about what the outcome would have been of the Dodi Fayed-Princess Diana relationship.

The book is illustrated with photographs, some never before seen; one in particular shows the anguish that Diana had in dealing with the constant presence of photographers.

This is a balanced account, though there is an omission. The authors do not mention that Trevor Rees Jones was the only one wearing a seatbelt in the car accident.

I have never read any of the Diana biographies ~~ but I happened to see a copy of this book on the clearance rack at a bookstore and thought, why not? I was mesmerized from the first page.

I was 11 when Princess Diana exploded on the scene. I watched the wedding that day ~~ and sighed over the fairytale of it all. I was 27 when she died ~~ and watched her funeral. So maybe I wasn't as keen on Diana as some of the others were, but she was an icon of my youth.

This book is a fair book describing her life before she married Charles and after her divorce. It showed a side to their marriage that brought understanding on their marriage (she was too young, I thought to be married into the Royal family, who I feel is removed from the realities of their country) and how it disintegrated into the public mess that I remember reading about in college. The authors took pains not to point fingers at either one of them in the blame for their marriage's failure ~~ they reminded us that their marriage is just like any other marriage ~~ set out with high hopes and expectations, only neither was equipped to deal with the other or how to fix their problems.

Then reading about how Diana manipulated the media to her advantage as well as to the advantages of her causes ~~ shows a savvy business woman who does understand the consquences of good media coverages. It was an interesting read on that account.

To paint Diana in a black and white picture is not fair to her because this woman, according to the authors, was a paradox. She showed many facets of her personality that kept her interesting to all that knew her, whether they liked her or not. She was portrayed as a caring mother, a compassionate charity worker, a high-strung wife, and so on. In my opinion, she's a refreshing change from the stiff-lipped royalty in England. This book shows her growing up in the 16 years of limelight and it's a fascinating read.

2-1-05

By far, the most even-handed treatment of the Diana story that I've found. I've read numerous books on Princess Diana and the Royal Family and this one appears to come closest to what is likely the truth. The authors have gone to great measure to interview qualified individuals on both sides of the story and present their findings without drawing conclusions for the reader. I've also seen the companion video . . . excellent.