What do you think?
Rate this book
Diana: Her True Story
In a shocking, headline-making story (coming as an NBC TV movie), Andrew Morton goes beyond speculation to present the facts about Princess Diana and her royal marriage--written with the full cooperation and support of Diana's family and friends, who speak freely in a sizzling, insider's tell-all. "Startlingly candid".--People. Includes never-before-seen photographs.
Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Andrew Morton
80 books618 followersAndrew David Morton (born 1953) is one of the world's best-known biographers and a leading authority on modern celebrity. His groundbreaking biography Diana: Her True Story was a #1 New York Times bestseller, as was Monica's Story, an authorized biography of Monica Lewinsky, and Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography. The winner of numerous awards, including Author of the Year, his other New York Times bestsellers include unauthorized biographies of Madonna and Angelina Jolie, as well as William & Catherine: Their Story. A former British Fleet Street tabloid journalist,he studied history at the University of Sussex. He lives in London.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,878 reviews
October 16, 2022
1.5 Jeny nareszcie. Dramat
June 30, 2017
My heart, it bleeds...
This is easily the best biography I've ever read. And it's been a long time coming. Ever since I heard of this I've wanted to read it. It just so happens that I was recently in St John's and stopped to browse a local used bookshop, inside which I found a pristine copy of the book. It is also fitting that I read it during the summer that is the 20th anniversary of her death.
There is so much about this woman that I did not know. Or, if I knew it, I didn't know the extent to which it affected her life.
Her relationship with Charles. I learned so much about how it began, how it evolved, and how it ended. I was horrified to hear just how involved Camilla Parker-Bowles was from the very beginning. I always thought Parker-Bowles was introduced into the love triangle much later. I was mistaken. I felt the sadness, frustration, anger, resentment, and all other feelings that Diana felt as she watched her husband carry on an affair with Parker-Bowles during their marriage. There were dozens of meetings behind closed doors, romantic letters exchanged, phone calls had, all to knowledge of the tortured Lady Diana who had no other option but to sit idly by and allow this to go on.
I, myself, am clinically diagnosed with anxiety. So, when I read about her eating disorder, I couldn't help but empathise with her, because I know what it's like to be at the complete mercy of your own brain. But, the book is written well enough that you don't need to personally have been affected by a mental disorder to understand that it is painful and tortuous. And it certainly doesn't help when you're being dragged through a troubled marriage in front of billions of watchful eyes. We all have our down days. Now, amplify it to the size of the entire planet; Diana's survival shows the triumph of an incredible woman and human. I think it's the love she shared, and received, from complete strangers that saved her. And a little love here and there might just be what saves us all.
Andrew Morton brilliantly captured the mood of Diana's tenure as Princess of Wales. I understood just how lonely and isolating it was for Diana, and I found myself just wanting to jump into the pages, back in time, to grab her hand and take her with me somewhere safe. Imagine having your every move followed, literally photographed, every second of every day of your life. I am not sure there is a person alive today who understands what she went through (perhaps Monica Lewinsky). Her rise to infamy played out during a time when technology was just beginning to flourish into a mass media-instant communication frenzy.
In this story I felt the real Diana, the woman who just wanted to be loved, and yet had so much love to give. She famously said, "Someone's got to go out there and love those people and show it." For me this captures the essence of this incredible figure in our history. And isn't it true, that often the people who are most loving and happy on the outside, are often the most unhappy inside. It's the mark of a true heroine to have been able to get on with each day spreading the love she felt the world deserved, regardless of her own internal conflicts. It takes courage to put on a smile when every muscle in your body is telling you to frown.
Diana brought world attention to major causes, namely HIV/Aids awareness and abolishing landmines globally. She had an uncanny gift with comforting the ill and dying. Yet, as it so often happens today with successful women, Diana's accomplishments were often overshadowed by trivial and meaningless things such as what she was wearing, or something Charles did or said, no matter how minor. Her work was important. Her simply being present with a person with Aids, or a with a person who lost their limbs to a landmine, woke up the masses to very real and serious issues. It's why I believe famous figures should more often yield their power for good. Whether we like it or not, people revere the famous, and they stand up and pay attention when a famous person draws eyes to an issue.
What I found peculiar and awesome was that Diana seemed sometimes to have premonitions of events which would then take place. In a few instances, people even thought she was psychic. Perhaps the most significant and heartbreaking premonition is when she felt quite strongly that the Establishment was trying to kill her (more specifically, by means of causing a vehicle accident, which gives me shivers). Not that I'm on one side or the other on the conspiracy of her death (I remain agnostic on this matter still), but coming from a woman who accurately predicted other things in her life - well, it makes you wonder...
I've shelved this on my memoir shelf, because most of the material comes from Diana's very lips, and it's the closest thing we will ever have to a memoir for her. In this commemorative edition, Morton has included the real transcripts from some of the interview tapes on which she answered his questions during the writing of the biography. I was glued to the pages.
And now for my chief complaint, which is minor, but something that irritated me to no end. The dreaded MISSING oxford comma! Grrrrr! It should be illegal to publish a book without first making sure all oxford commas are in place.
I wrap up this review with a direct quote from the book. Andrew Morton wrote:
This is easily the best biography I've ever read. And it's been a long time coming. Ever since I heard of this I've wanted to read it. It just so happens that I was recently in St John's and stopped to browse a local used bookshop, inside which I found a pristine copy of the book. It is also fitting that I read it during the summer that is the 20th anniversary of her death.
There is so much about this woman that I did not know. Or, if I knew it, I didn't know the extent to which it affected her life.
Her relationship with Charles. I learned so much about how it began, how it evolved, and how it ended. I was horrified to hear just how involved Camilla Parker-Bowles was from the very beginning. I always thought Parker-Bowles was introduced into the love triangle much later. I was mistaken. I felt the sadness, frustration, anger, resentment, and all other feelings that Diana felt as she watched her husband carry on an affair with Parker-Bowles during their marriage. There were dozens of meetings behind closed doors, romantic letters exchanged, phone calls had, all to knowledge of the tortured Lady Diana who had no other option but to sit idly by and allow this to go on.
I, myself, am clinically diagnosed with anxiety. So, when I read about her eating disorder, I couldn't help but empathise with her, because I know what it's like to be at the complete mercy of your own brain. But, the book is written well enough that you don't need to personally have been affected by a mental disorder to understand that it is painful and tortuous. And it certainly doesn't help when you're being dragged through a troubled marriage in front of billions of watchful eyes. We all have our down days. Now, amplify it to the size of the entire planet; Diana's survival shows the triumph of an incredible woman and human. I think it's the love she shared, and received, from complete strangers that saved her. And a little love here and there might just be what saves us all.
Andrew Morton brilliantly captured the mood of Diana's tenure as Princess of Wales. I understood just how lonely and isolating it was for Diana, and I found myself just wanting to jump into the pages, back in time, to grab her hand and take her with me somewhere safe. Imagine having your every move followed, literally photographed, every second of every day of your life. I am not sure there is a person alive today who understands what she went through (perhaps Monica Lewinsky). Her rise to infamy played out during a time when technology was just beginning to flourish into a mass media-instant communication frenzy.
In this story I felt the real Diana, the woman who just wanted to be loved, and yet had so much love to give. She famously said, "Someone's got to go out there and love those people and show it." For me this captures the essence of this incredible figure in our history. And isn't it true, that often the people who are most loving and happy on the outside, are often the most unhappy inside. It's the mark of a true heroine to have been able to get on with each day spreading the love she felt the world deserved, regardless of her own internal conflicts. It takes courage to put on a smile when every muscle in your body is telling you to frown.
Diana brought world attention to major causes, namely HIV/Aids awareness and abolishing landmines globally. She had an uncanny gift with comforting the ill and dying. Yet, as it so often happens today with successful women, Diana's accomplishments were often overshadowed by trivial and meaningless things such as what she was wearing, or something Charles did or said, no matter how minor. Her work was important. Her simply being present with a person with Aids, or a with a person who lost their limbs to a landmine, woke up the masses to very real and serious issues. It's why I believe famous figures should more often yield their power for good. Whether we like it or not, people revere the famous, and they stand up and pay attention when a famous person draws eyes to an issue.
What I found peculiar and awesome was that Diana seemed sometimes to have premonitions of events which would then take place. In a few instances, people even thought she was psychic. Perhaps the most significant and heartbreaking premonition is when she felt quite strongly that the Establishment was trying to kill her (more specifically, by means of causing a vehicle accident, which gives me shivers). Not that I'm on one side or the other on the conspiracy of her death (I remain agnostic on this matter still), but coming from a woman who accurately predicted other things in her life - well, it makes you wonder...
I've shelved this on my memoir shelf, because most of the material comes from Diana's very lips, and it's the closest thing we will ever have to a memoir for her. In this commemorative edition, Morton has included the real transcripts from some of the interview tapes on which she answered his questions during the writing of the biography. I was glued to the pages.
And now for my chief complaint, which is minor, but something that irritated me to no end. The dreaded MISSING oxford comma! Grrrrr! It should be illegal to publish a book without first making sure all oxford commas are in place.
I wrap up this review with a direct quote from the book. Andrew Morton wrote:
As historians reflect on her renown and her legacy, they will come to judge Diana, Princess of Wales as one of the most influential figures of this, or any other, age. For as long as there are poets, playwrights and men with hearts to break, tales will be told of the princess who died across the water and returned home to be crowned a queen, the queen of all our hearts. Diana, Princess of Wales. She wrote poetry in our souls. And made us wonder.
April 6, 2022
Diana: Her True Story, Andrew Morton
Originally published in 1992, this biography was produced with the full co-operation and input of the Princess. Following the tragic and sudden death of the Princess in August 1997, the book has been fully revised to contain new material and photographs and is designed to stand as a tribute to her.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال2000میلادی
عنوان: دایانا غریبه ای در دربار انگلیس؛ نویسنده: اندرو مورتن؛ مترجم: سیاوش فولادفرد؛ ویراستار: جمال آل احمد؛ تهران، کویر، سال1377؛ در288ص؛ شابک9646144217؛ چاپ چهارم سال1378؛ موضوع: سرگذشتنامه شاهزادگان انگلستان از نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده20م
فهرست کتاب: «آغاز شکوفائی»، «انتظار داشتند من یک پسر باشم»، «فقط مرا عالیجناب خطاب کنید»، «چه آرزوئی در دل داشتم»، «فریاد کمک»، «عزیزم من دارم از بین میروم»، «مسیر زندگی من عوض شد»، «من آنها را تحریک نمیکنم»، «من آنچه در توان داشتم انجام دادم»؛
روانشاد «دایانا» در پس از ظهر روز نخست ماه ژوئیه سال1961میلادی به این دنیا آمدند، ایشان سومین دختر، از پنج فرزند «ویسکُنت آلترپ»، سی و هفت ساله، و «ویسکُنتس آلتروپ» بیست و پنج ساله بودند، در روز بیست و نهم ماه فوریه سال1981میلادی، با «پرنس چارلز» عروسی کردند، «دایانا فرانسیس اسپنسر»، در نیمه شب، شبی در ماه سپتامبر سال1997میلادی، همراه مردی به نام، «عماد فایز»، میلیاردر نامدار «مصری»، که قرار بود با «دایانا» ازدواج کند، در رویداد تصادف اتومبیل «عماد فایز»، به همراه راننده در دم جان باختند
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 24/03/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ 16/01/1401میلادی؛ ا. شربیانی
Originally published in 1992, this biography was produced with the full co-operation and input of the Princess. Following the tragic and sudden death of the Princess in August 1997, the book has been fully revised to contain new material and photographs and is designed to stand as a tribute to her.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال2000میلادی
عنوان: دایانا غریبه ای در دربار انگلیس؛ نویسنده: اندرو مورتن؛ مترجم: سیاوش فولادفرد؛ ویراستار: جمال آل احمد؛ تهران، کویر، سال1377؛ در288ص؛ شابک9646144217؛ چاپ چهارم سال1378؛ موضوع: سرگذشتنامه شاهزادگان انگلستان از نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده20م
فهرست کتاب: «آغاز شکوفائی»، «انتظار داشتند من یک پسر باشم»، «فقط مرا عالیجناب خطاب کنید»، «چه آرزوئی در دل داشتم»، «فریاد کمک»، «عزیزم من دارم از بین میروم»، «مسیر زندگی من عوض شد»، «من آنها را تحریک نمیکنم»، «من آنچه در توان داشتم انجام دادم»؛
روانشاد «دایانا» در پس از ظهر روز نخست ماه ژوئیه سال1961میلادی به این دنیا آمدند، ایشان سومین دختر، از پنج فرزند «ویسکُنت آلترپ»، سی و هفت ساله، و «ویسکُنتس آلتروپ» بیست و پنج ساله بودند، در روز بیست و نهم ماه فوریه سال1981میلادی، با «پرنس چارلز» عروسی کردند، «دایانا فرانسیس اسپنسر»، در نیمه شب، شبی در ماه سپتامبر سال1997میلادی، همراه مردی به نام، «عماد فایز»، میلیاردر نامدار «مصری»، که قرار بود با «دایانا» ازدواج کند، در رویداد تصادف اتومبیل «عماد فایز»، به همراه راننده در دم جان باختند
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 24/03/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ 16/01/1401میلادی؛ ا. شربیانی
April 4, 2022
Z bólem serca 2,5/5
Czułam ogromny chaos i brakowało mi lepszego przeredagowania.
Czułam ogromny chaos i brakowało mi lepszego przeredagowania.
January 1, 2023
o livro INTEIRO com candle in the wind - elton john tocando na minha cabeça. como pode essa música falar tanto sobre a diana mesmo sem ter sido composta pra ela diretamente? pois bem.
November 4, 2013
I've always been interested in Princess Diana but at the height of her publicity, I was still too young to have any other impression of her than those of fairy tales, a handsome prince and his princess. Then she died and the hype and mystery surrounding her death also kept me captivated for a while. I didn't think to read anything about her until a friend mentioned recently that he wanted to (thanks Mostafa). I figured now, as an adult, was a good time to read her story, understand the facts, and have a grownup perspective of what was really going on in the Princess's life.
I guess this review is going to be a mix of what I thought about Diana based on the book more than what I thought of the book itself. And it's going to contain spoilers because I don't know how to stress my emotional outrage while leaving them out. Is there such a thing as spoilers in an auto/biography, anyway?
Very interesting in the beginning-- the actual transcript/interviews between Morton and Diana. It might have been the best part of the book because after that, things became redundant.
"Dubbed as the longest divorce petition of all time." That gave me a chuckle.
Firstly, I feel as if he exaggerated how horrible her childhood was to set the foundation for her immature/confused character later in the book. As if he was blaming her upbringing for her erratic actions later in life. Morton stated that Diana's fear was to be blamed for something and that's what I felt Morton was doing throughout the book: deflecting the blame from Diana. I still don't understand what was so bad about her childhood? That her parents divorced? That she was supposed to be born a boy? She was raised as an aristocrat and lived a privileged life. She had ponies and skiing holidays abroad. Her family mingled with royalty. Even her brother remembered her as a happy go lucky child at her funeral. Why the emphasis on what a sad childhood she had?
Second, WHY did she go through with the wedding when she knew that jerk was still in love with Camilla? She caught him several times during their engagement and even intercepted his (intimate) gift to Camilla the night before her wedding. Again, Morton deflects the blame saying Diana was young and immature. I didn't realize you had to be mature or experienced to know that if a guy is clinging onto his ex or sidepiece all throughout your engagement, that he's not good for you. It baffled me that someone who hated being in the public eye, someone who wanted a husband who loved and paid attention to her-- someone who knew what she wanted-- would choose to marry into the royal family, specifically Charles. From the very beginning of their courtship, Charles, through his actions, made it clear that he never loved her. That she will always be second or third or even last in his life. Well, according to Morton, that is. I guess the magical idea of marrying a prince trumpeted all her worries.
I despised the way the royal family alienated her, the way her husband completely ignored her. This book contained a lot of little details about Diana's miserable life inside the palace. The lonliness, especially during her battle with bulimia, the charade of being someone she was not. Morton uses the metaphor, a prisoner in a 'gilded cage', ad nauseum. She hated the protocol, she hated the press, she hated publicity, but I can't help but wonder what she expected when she married the Prince of Wales. Obviously not a life of seclusion. Diana hated everything about royalty except the way it gave her access to make an impact in the world and in people's lives, specifically the sick and the dying... and of course, the wealth her position brought her.
I sympathized with her. She was in an impossible situation in her private and public life. Still. There are two sides to every story and this one was clearly one-sided. On the Windsor's defense, Diana was emotionally unstable-- the eating disorder, the loveless marriage, the suicide attempts-- but Morton didn't dwell too long on that, blaming any insecurity or instability on her part on an unhappy childhood and lack of maturity. What really goes without saying is: If you choose to marry into a royal family, there will be a change of lifestyle and you basically need to get with the program. Diana did not want to, or couldn't handle it, or whatever the reason is, and she didn't know how to extricate herself.
Regarding the book, there were too many unnecessary details. It was hard to follow what happened in chronological order. Morton was redundant in laying out Diana's problems: the way the Establishment treated her, the unrelenting exposure in the media, and the 'other woman' in her husband's life. He could have saved us some time and made his point in lesser pages.
I'd probably want to read another book about her but one that's less one-sided so I can get a more balanced view of events. But according to this one, I'll say that:
The world will always love Diana for who she was and what she tried to accomplish in her short, public life. In her private life, she brought color and life and... normalcy to a dull, morose and uptight institution and the Windsors hated her for it. Drama. All drama with a very sad ending.
I guess this review is going to be a mix of what I thought about Diana based on the book more than what I thought of the book itself. And it's going to contain spoilers because I don't know how to stress my emotional outrage while leaving them out. Is there such a thing as spoilers in an auto/biography, anyway?
Very interesting in the beginning-- the actual transcript/interviews between Morton and Diana. It might have been the best part of the book because after that, things became redundant.
"Dubbed as the longest divorce petition of all time." That gave me a chuckle.
Firstly, I feel as if he exaggerated how horrible her childhood was to set the foundation for her immature/confused character later in the book. As if he was blaming her upbringing for her erratic actions later in life. Morton stated that Diana's fear was to be blamed for something and that's what I felt Morton was doing throughout the book: deflecting the blame from Diana. I still don't understand what was so bad about her childhood? That her parents divorced? That she was supposed to be born a boy? She was raised as an aristocrat and lived a privileged life. She had ponies and skiing holidays abroad. Her family mingled with royalty. Even her brother remembered her as a happy go lucky child at her funeral. Why the emphasis on what a sad childhood she had?
Second, WHY did she go through with the wedding when she knew that jerk was still in love with Camilla? She caught him several times during their engagement and even intercepted his (intimate) gift to Camilla the night before her wedding. Again, Morton deflects the blame saying Diana was young and immature. I didn't realize you had to be mature or experienced to know that if a guy is clinging onto his ex or sidepiece all throughout your engagement, that he's not good for you. It baffled me that someone who hated being in the public eye, someone who wanted a husband who loved and paid attention to her-- someone who knew what she wanted-- would choose to marry into the royal family, specifically Charles. From the very beginning of their courtship, Charles, through his actions, made it clear that he never loved her. That she will always be second or third or even last in his life. Well, according to Morton, that is. I guess the magical idea of marrying a prince trumpeted all her worries.
I despised the way the royal family alienated her, the way her husband completely ignored her. This book contained a lot of little details about Diana's miserable life inside the palace. The lonliness, especially during her battle with bulimia, the charade of being someone she was not. Morton uses the metaphor, a prisoner in a 'gilded cage', ad nauseum. She hated the protocol, she hated the press, she hated publicity, but I can't help but wonder what she expected when she married the Prince of Wales. Obviously not a life of seclusion. Diana hated everything about royalty except the way it gave her access to make an impact in the world and in people's lives, specifically the sick and the dying... and of course, the wealth her position brought her.
I sympathized with her. She was in an impossible situation in her private and public life. Still. There are two sides to every story and this one was clearly one-sided. On the Windsor's defense, Diana was emotionally unstable-- the eating disorder, the loveless marriage, the suicide attempts-- but Morton didn't dwell too long on that, blaming any insecurity or instability on her part on an unhappy childhood and lack of maturity. What really goes without saying is: If you choose to marry into a royal family, there will be a change of lifestyle and you basically need to get with the program. Diana did not want to, or couldn't handle it, or whatever the reason is, and she didn't know how to extricate herself.
Regarding the book, there were too many unnecessary details. It was hard to follow what happened in chronological order. Morton was redundant in laying out Diana's problems: the way the Establishment treated her, the unrelenting exposure in the media, and the 'other woman' in her husband's life. He could have saved us some time and made his point in lesser pages.
I'd probably want to read another book about her but one that's less one-sided so I can get a more balanced view of events. But according to this one, I'll say that:
The world will always love Diana for who she was and what she tried to accomplish in her short, public life. In her private life, she brought color and life and... normalcy to a dull, morose and uptight institution and the Windsors hated her for it. Drama. All drama with a very sad ending.
September 12, 2017
If I read this book when it came out it would have been a solid 5 stars. It would be that for being the first in its kind; the way it was done by sneaking the questions and answers out of Kensington Palace via a recorder and some cassette tapes and a sheet of questions.
This book by Andrew Morton did pave the way to other books that came after it. It gave a voice to those who couldn't because of tradition or rules.
This book read 20 years after the death of Diana, while the content of this book was told in many documentaries that have been produced over the last 25 years.
The book tells the story of Diana from her youth till her almost the early 1990s. From her mum leaving the family, the arrival of the stepmother, Diana meeting Charles, Diana living in London. Diana being hounded by the press. Diana knowing about Camilla. The marriage. The cracks. The suicide attempts. The bulimia. The pregnancies.... etc
This book by Andrew Morton did pave the way to other books that came after it. It gave a voice to those who couldn't because of tradition or rules.
This book read 20 years after the death of Diana, while the content of this book was told in many documentaries that have been produced over the last 25 years.
The book tells the story of Diana from her youth till her almost the early 1990s. From her mum leaving the family, the arrival of the stepmother, Diana meeting Charles, Diana living in London. Diana being hounded by the press. Diana knowing about Camilla. The marriage. The cracks. The suicide attempts. The bulimia. The pregnancies.... etc
September 24, 2023
This is an incredible book. I’d recommend it to everyone and anyone regardless of political affiliations. She was an amazing woman with a powerful story, and it’s so important we remember it now more than ever.
January 9, 2022
Ta książka zniszczyła mnie psychicznie, tak jak dwór zniszczył psychicznie Dianę. Nie zrozumiem i nie ma dla mnie wybaczenia czy litości wobec zachowania, jakiego dopuszczała się rodzina królewska z jej mężem na czele dla młodej, wystraszonej i niedoświadczonej dziewczyny.
Głusi na wołanie o pomoc, ślepi na czerwone flagi zaburzeń odżywiania - to wszystko było po prostu chore. A Diana, jaka by nie była, nie zasługiwała na to zakończenie.
Głusi na wołanie o pomoc, ślepi na czerwone flagi zaburzeń odżywiania - to wszystko było po prostu chore. A Diana, jaka by nie była, nie zasługiwała na to zakończenie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2021
rip princess diana. you would’ve loved seeing charles getting trashed in the crown and taylor swift’s tolerate it.
August 26, 2011
Interesting in the beginning, but it dragged on too long, and was ridiculously repetitive. (Some events, names, and titles were mentioned numerous times. "I know," I'd think, "you already said that. SIX TIMES!") Hard to follow chronologically because the chapters seemed to incorporate events that followed the current theme the author was addressing. I wasn't always sure where I was chronologically when I was reading. All of this made for a very slow progression which became tedious towards the end.
This book is an okay read, but if you are expecting a balanced representation of her experience with the Windsor family, you won't find it here. Diana had plenty of her own "issues" which obviously colored the way she told the story.
This book is an okay read, but if you are expecting a balanced representation of her experience with the Windsor family, you won't find it here. Diana had plenty of her own "issues" which obviously colored the way she told the story.
October 17, 2022
In September I watched Spencer, the Hulu movie starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana. Before watching, I knew very little about Diana and have to admit, have had minimal interest in keeping up with the royal family. I was fascinated watching Spencer though — I wondered if things really happened that way and what aspects of the story were true. I paused the movie several times to Google my questions.
After finishing the movie and being impressed with Stewart’s imitation of Diana, I wanted to learn more, so I picked up this book. Organized in 3 parts, Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words is a biography in which the princess herself fully cooperated for interviews, confidentially. The first part reads like an informal transcript, the second is a more formal bio, and the third details the aftermath of Diana’s unexpected death in 1997.
I enjoyed learning more about her — I didn’t know she was a kindergarten teacher before her entry into royal life. The signs of Charles’s infidelity were evident very early on. Many people had a hard time accepting the ordinary cause of Diana’s death — How could someone larger than life die in such a common way? This denial led to serious rumors and conspiracy theories. A lot of this was new to me as I haven’t kept up with the royals and was in 5th grade when Diana died. I found Diana to be an interesting read — 3.5 stars
After finishing the movie and being impressed with Stewart’s imitation of Diana, I wanted to learn more, so I picked up this book. Organized in 3 parts, Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words is a biography in which the princess herself fully cooperated for interviews, confidentially. The first part reads like an informal transcript, the second is a more formal bio, and the third details the aftermath of Diana’s unexpected death in 1997.
I enjoyed learning more about her — I didn’t know she was a kindergarten teacher before her entry into royal life. The signs of Charles’s infidelity were evident very early on. Many people had a hard time accepting the ordinary cause of Diana’s death — How could someone larger than life die in such a common way? This denial led to serious rumors and conspiracy theories. A lot of this was new to me as I haven’t kept up with the royals and was in 5th grade when Diana died. I found Diana to be an interesting read — 3.5 stars
August 2, 2017
Firstly, I realize that this is a one-sided story. There is going to be a bias. While the author did try to lay blame on Diana when it was due at times, it really was a sharp criticism of the Prince of Wales.
I'm a monarchy buff, so I love this stuff. Having read the Queen's biography by Sally Bedell Smith, it was interesting seeing information from both sides. This account sheds light on how the Queen did see Diana as a threat to the royal family, not power-wise but systemically. She broke some of the stale traditions. This book helped me see that it was for the better. One point I got from it was that Diana forced the monarchy to adapt to the new millennium, and it's probably the reason the monarchy is held in high regard today, despite a tough economy. I'd say that the traits Diana instilled in Prince William is what makes him so popular and has gotten a new generation on board. I'd also say that this book led to the public disdain of Prince Charles. It's as if many Brits have accepted that Charles is the way he is, but they have never forgiven him for Diana's death, and I'd say the sentiment is at least double that towards Camilla.
I did learn a lot about Diana's early life. It actually explains how she ended up with a chauvinist like Charles. But I also feel that her pain and struggles allowed her to reach people on a level no royal had previously been able to reach. She knew their pain. She lived it. Ultimately she survived it because her life ended in a much more positive place personally.
All in all, this is a good account of a facade the public created and a defeated woman's desire to overcome. It did make me wish terribly that she was here today to see her sons and their family that they've created. It'll be a good day when we have King William V. Diana's impact will be felt more than ever.
I'm a monarchy buff, so I love this stuff. Having read the Queen's biography by Sally Bedell Smith, it was interesting seeing information from both sides. This account sheds light on how the Queen did see Diana as a threat to the royal family, not power-wise but systemically. She broke some of the stale traditions. This book helped me see that it was for the better. One point I got from it was that Diana forced the monarchy to adapt to the new millennium, and it's probably the reason the monarchy is held in high regard today, despite a tough economy. I'd say that the traits Diana instilled in Prince William is what makes him so popular and has gotten a new generation on board. I'd also say that this book led to the public disdain of Prince Charles. It's as if many Brits have accepted that Charles is the way he is, but they have never forgiven him for Diana's death, and I'd say the sentiment is at least double that towards Camilla.
I did learn a lot about Diana's early life. It actually explains how she ended up with a chauvinist like Charles. But I also feel that her pain and struggles allowed her to reach people on a level no royal had previously been able to reach. She knew their pain. She lived it. Ultimately she survived it because her life ended in a much more positive place personally.
All in all, this is a good account of a facade the public created and a defeated woman's desire to overcome. It did make me wish terribly that she was here today to see her sons and their family that they've created. It'll be a good day when we have King William V. Diana's impact will be felt more than ever.
January 24, 2022
Pierwsza część, ta zawierająca nagrania Księżnej Diany, była szalenie interesująca i pełna emocji. Naprawdę było czuć, że są to informacje z pierwszej ręki. Później niestety wiało nudą, tym bardziej, że autor często powtarzał informacje, które już wcześniej poznaliśmy.
May 8, 2023
3/5
Knygos suskirstymas toks gana keistas (ir čia kalbu apie naujausią jubiliejinį leidimą): pirmiausiai skaitome tik Dianos įrašų išrašus. Tada – jau pačią knygą, kur tie išrašai papildyti kitų komentarais. O tada – skyrius, parašytus jau po Dianos mirties, reflektuojant knygos įtaką, reikšmę ir aptariant visokias įdomybes, apie kurias tada kalbėti nebuvo galima. Norėjosi, kad visgi Dianos įrašai būtų gale, nes dabar perskaitai kokius 50 puslapių faktų ir pasakojimų, o tada... skaitai juos iš naujo. Tik jau gražiau ant popieriaus suguldytus. Tai gaunasi toks nelabai džiuginantis dvigubas skaitymas, nuobodus ir keistas, kuomet visi reikalai jau žinomi. Gal geriau būtų tuos įrašus padėti į galą, tipo „va, kas norit, sulyginkit istorijų pasakojimus“? Bent jau man tikrai būtų atnešę kur kas daugiau skaitymo malonumo, kuris dabar rodėsi nemenkai sugadintas.
Kaip ir nesužinojau nieko naujo. Nors Diana ir buvo nepaprastai naivi (bet kuris iš mūsų 16-kos nebuvom?), visgi niekas, kas jai nutiko, nebuvo nei atleistina, nei priimtina. Galiu drąsiai teigti, kad būtent Čarlzas buvo kaltas ir dėl jos bulimijos protrūkių, ir dėl žemos savivertės, ir dėl negalėjimo gauti pagalbos, kurios jai žūtbūtinai reikėjo. Jei skaitytume romaną apie tokius žmones, sakytume, kad jis – nerealistiškas ir kvailas. Kai žinai, kad skaitai apie tikrus likimus, šiurpas ne kartą ir ne du per kūną nueina. Ir nors galima juoktis iš to, kaip Haris su Meghan elgėsi, ką kalbėjo ir kas buvo Spare surašyta, visgi Hario nusiteikimas ginti mylimą moterį nagais ir dantimis yra kaip tik tai, ko būtų reikėję jo paties mamai. Ir tai, kad pats Haris tai supranta, tik įrodo, kad Dianos auka nenuėjo veltui. O knygą skaityti karūnavimo metu – geriausias priminimas, kiek daug kančių tie, kurie dabar su karūnom šypsosi, sukėlė. Ir ne netyčia.
Knygos suskirstymas toks gana keistas (ir čia kalbu apie naujausią jubiliejinį leidimą): pirmiausiai skaitome tik Dianos įrašų išrašus. Tada – jau pačią knygą, kur tie išrašai papildyti kitų komentarais. O tada – skyrius, parašytus jau po Dianos mirties, reflektuojant knygos įtaką, reikšmę ir aptariant visokias įdomybes, apie kurias tada kalbėti nebuvo galima. Norėjosi, kad visgi Dianos įrašai būtų gale, nes dabar perskaitai kokius 50 puslapių faktų ir pasakojimų, o tada... skaitai juos iš naujo. Tik jau gražiau ant popieriaus suguldytus. Tai gaunasi toks nelabai džiuginantis dvigubas skaitymas, nuobodus ir keistas, kuomet visi reikalai jau žinomi. Gal geriau būtų tuos įrašus padėti į galą, tipo „va, kas norit, sulyginkit istorijų pasakojimus“? Bent jau man tikrai būtų atnešę kur kas daugiau skaitymo malonumo, kuris dabar rodėsi nemenkai sugadintas.
Kaip ir nesužinojau nieko naujo. Nors Diana ir buvo nepaprastai naivi (bet kuris iš mūsų 16-kos nebuvom?), visgi niekas, kas jai nutiko, nebuvo nei atleistina, nei priimtina. Galiu drąsiai teigti, kad būtent Čarlzas buvo kaltas ir dėl jos bulimijos protrūkių, ir dėl žemos savivertės, ir dėl negalėjimo gauti pagalbos, kurios jai žūtbūtinai reikėjo. Jei skaitytume romaną apie tokius žmones, sakytume, kad jis – nerealistiškas ir kvailas. Kai žinai, kad skaitai apie tikrus likimus, šiurpas ne kartą ir ne du per kūną nueina. Ir nors galima juoktis iš to, kaip Haris su Meghan elgėsi, ką kalbėjo ir kas buvo Spare surašyta, visgi Hario nusiteikimas ginti mylimą moterį nagais ir dantimis yra kaip tik tai, ko būtų reikėję jo paties mamai. Ir tai, kad pats Haris tai supranta, tik įrodo, kad Dianos auka nenuėjo veltui. O knygą skaityti karūnavimo metu – geriausias priminimas, kiek daug kančių tie, kurie dabar su karūnom šypsosi, sukėlė. Ir ne netyčia.
September 26, 2012
Blah! This book leaves the reader wondering who was more at fault for the Windsor's marriage failure. From what this author writes, it had nothing to do with Diana's immaturity, bulimia, half-hearted suicide attempts, intellectual capacity (or lack thereof), or her extra-marital affairs. The whole fault lay with Charles and his philandering with Camilla. Isn't it always the guy's fault? :)
The bottom line is that if a person is not born into the public spotlight, it's a tough lifestyle to adapt to. If a person does not wish to live in a fishbowl, he or she should not enter it in the first place.
The bottom line is that if a person is not born into the public spotlight, it's a tough lifestyle to adapt to. If a person does not wish to live in a fishbowl, he or she should not enter it in the first place.
October 30, 2022
"The People's Princess"
This book literally broke my heart. What a Woman! Diana's story was truly inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time and she didn't deserve any of this.
This book literally broke my heart. What a Woman! Diana's story was truly inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time and she didn't deserve any of this.
October 29, 2021
Za vreme u kom je ova knjiga ugledala svetlost dana, ona je neminovno bila skandalozna senzacija. Danas se ovo štivo čita sasvim drugačije. Usuđujem se reći, kao jeftina fan fikcija. Nekoliko Dajaninih ispovesti, autor presipa iz šupljeg u prazno, i neumorno seli sa stranice na stranicu. Opčinjen zvezdom svoje knjige, niže slatkorečive hvalospeve o njenom liku i delu, istovremeno stavljajući sve oko nje na svojevrsnu lomaču. Samim tim, Dajanin primarni utisak o Čarlsu kao tužnom čoveku, je jedna od retkih "lepih" stvari koje ćete ovde o njemu pročitati.
Za nekog ko apsolutno nema pojma o dinastiji Vindzor, ovo će možda biti šokantno štivo. Za mene je ovo bila čista dosada. Pritom je štivo, pored silnog autorovog veličanja, na mene ostavilo opšti loš utisak, te nepovoljnu i nadasve površnu i ispraznu sliku o ledi Dajani Spenser.
Imajući u vidu da je ovo, ako se ne varam, najpoznatija knjiga o princezi i pre svega jedina koja je sačinjena uz njenu pomoć, sve je to traljavo, jeftino i dostojno pre kioska nego nje same, te njene zaostavštine i uloge u najpoznatijoj kraljevskoj porodici.
Naravoučenije, kad nema knjige koju ste hteli da čitate, ne hvatajte se neke sa top liste iz čiste dosade..
Za nekog ko apsolutno nema pojma o dinastiji Vindzor, ovo će možda biti šokantno štivo. Za mene je ovo bila čista dosada. Pritom je štivo, pored silnog autorovog veličanja, na mene ostavilo opšti loš utisak, te nepovoljnu i nadasve površnu i ispraznu sliku o ledi Dajani Spenser.
Imajući u vidu da je ovo, ako se ne varam, najpoznatija knjiga o princezi i pre svega jedina koja je sačinjena uz njenu pomoć, sve je to traljavo, jeftino i dostojno pre kioska nego nje same, te njene zaostavštine i uloge u najpoznatijoj kraljevskoj porodici.
Naravoučenije, kad nema knjige koju ste hteli da čitate, ne hvatajte se neke sa top liste iz čiste dosade..
July 23, 2011
What a sad book. I grew up with Diana as the "People's Princess." I remember my mom waking my sister and I up so early those many years ago to watch the royal wedding. Like so many in the world, I watched Diana through the years with fascination and admiration. I wept when her life was cut tragically short just as it seemed she had found happiness in so many areas of her life.
This is the updated edition that came out after her death. Morton adds context to how he gathered the information for her story, with the princess as a willing collaborator. There's a section with notes in Diana's own words. To read those notes, then read the full text of the book made it evident that she fully participated in telling her story. There are also added chapters detailing the years between when the book was originally published and Diana's death.
I ended the book feeling so sad for Diana. I think what struck me the most was that once she and Charles began their divorce negotiations... Diana had nowhere to go. She was stuck in Kensington Palace, which was not her own. She tried to move back to her ancestral home at Althorp, but her brother then decided it was not a good idea for his family for security reasons. She had nowhere to go. But like so many times in her life, she found a way to accept her lot in life, move forward, and eventually make the best of it.
This book also makes me want to re-watch the movie "The Queen."
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about Diana's life.
This is the updated edition that came out after her death. Morton adds context to how he gathered the information for her story, with the princess as a willing collaborator. There's a section with notes in Diana's own words. To read those notes, then read the full text of the book made it evident that she fully participated in telling her story. There are also added chapters detailing the years between when the book was originally published and Diana's death.
I ended the book feeling so sad for Diana. I think what struck me the most was that once she and Charles began their divorce negotiations... Diana had nowhere to go. She was stuck in Kensington Palace, which was not her own. She tried to move back to her ancestral home at Althorp, but her brother then decided it was not a good idea for his family for security reasons. She had nowhere to go. But like so many times in her life, she found a way to accept her lot in life, move forward, and eventually make the best of it.
This book also makes me want to re-watch the movie "The Queen."
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about Diana's life.
February 16, 2015
A harrowing read, which opened my eyes to the suffering Diana went through, including Charles cheating on her with Camilla even before he married Diana. Really exposes the sinister behaviour of the Royal Family.
August 4, 2021
Определено хубава книга, която ме запозна с много факти от живота на Даяна, за които нямах представа. Ужасно мъчно ми стана за нея и трябваше да правя доста паузи при слушането, за да мога да преглътна всичко, което е преживяла.
May 20, 2024
Interesting, but quite repetitive. The greatest part of the book is the backstory of how it came to be written.
Worth a read if you are a Princess Di fan.
Solid 3 Star, but not worth more than that
Worth a read if you are a Princess Di fan.
Solid 3 Star, but not worth more than that
October 4, 2022
לסקירה מפורטת בעברית קישור לבלוג שלי -
3.5 כוכבים
https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/דיאנ...
3.5 כוכבים
https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/דיאנ...
Read
December 12, 20232023: I haven't reread this, but I've removed my rating and the "craptastic" shelving because deep down I AM glad this book exists and realize its importance, especially after the Firm was able to get the Panorama interview scrubbed from the BBC (as far as they will never air it again nor license it for other networks). You may still find the interview on Youtube, I think, at least for the moment.
2017: Tabloid fodder, that's all this feels like. Thankfully my copy wasn't the overblown 300-400+ pages in the mass market paperback, I don't think I could've gotten through it otherwise. Full of spelling mistakes; it's easy to see how utterly rushed this was. I'm sure it was much more sensational when it was first published, before Diana and Charles divorced. I didn't learn anything new from it and I honestly feel guilty for owning it. A person's life isn't meant to be judged and picked over so intensely by so many, regardless of who they are.
I had a Princess Diana photo book when I was a kid and I've followed the British royal family ever since then, keeping up with the princes and being enthralled with William and Kate's wedding and the children... It just makes me wish that this book had been done better, because Diana was such a fascinating person. She deserved better.
2017: Tabloid fodder, that's all this feels like. Thankfully my copy wasn't the overblown 300-400+ pages in the mass market paperback, I don't think I could've gotten through it otherwise. Full of spelling mistakes; it's easy to see how utterly rushed this was. I'm sure it was much more sensational when it was first published, before Diana and Charles divorced. I didn't learn anything new from it and I honestly feel guilty for owning it. A person's life isn't meant to be judged and picked over so intensely by so many, regardless of who they are.
I had a Princess Diana photo book when I was a kid and I've followed the British royal family ever since then, keeping up with the princes and being enthralled with William and Kate's wedding and the children... It just makes me wish that this book had been done better, because Diana was such a fascinating person. She deserved better.
Read
October 19, 2019During her lifetime,whatever happened to Princess Diana was big news.She helped things along,by constantly making news herself,her troubled relationship with Charles and the royal family,and her numerous love affairs.She helped Andrew Morton write this controversial book,about her troubles,and it created quite a stir when it came out,while she was still part of the royal family.Sensational,and interesting. (3 stars).
October 12, 2022
Jako biografia to było dla mnie nużące i słabe, pomimo ogromnego zainteresowania tematem. Historię Diany z kolei trudno ocenić - moim zdaniem nic nie jest czarno-białe.
July 9, 2021
Fascinating & heartbreaking are the best to words fo describe Diana’s story. She was a woman of contradictions and perhaps the only down-to-earth royal in many generations. I really enjoyed this book even when my heart ached for her.
February 22, 2017
I can't remember being aware of Diana before her death in 1997. As a 9-year-old I woke up bright and early on that Saturday ready to watch the morning cartoons as usual. Instead what I found was rolling news footage of some woman who had died in a car crash. Flicking through the channels and realising the cartoons weren't coming, I headed upstairs to my parents' bedroom in a huff. Waking them up I announced, "There's nothing on, it's all 'oh nooo Princess Diana's dead'". The reaction from my parents was a sleepy yet stern "no she isn't", as if I was making it up. It was that much of a shock to them. I meanwhile didn't even know who she was at that point, but I was about to – she was everywhere over the next few months, as my parents and I were to witness.
Since then I've always been mildly curious about the real story. Although not actively seeking the information, I've found myself watching and reading a few documentaries and news articles about her and her life as the wife of Prince Charles. When this book came up on the Kindle Daily Deal I felt compelled to download it. I'd never have paid full price for it, but there's no arguing with 99p to indulge a curiosity.
The first part of the book is direct transcripts of taped conversations with Diana. It's "in her own words", as the title states. Sadly there weren't many revelations there as I found I already knew much of it. That might not be the case for everyone though and I imagine at the time the book had a lot greater impact than it does these days. It's interesting that her words from 1991 now seem prophetic e.g. feeling that she'll never be Queen, a connection to France (where she died), and that she'd one day fall in love with a foreigner. All correct.
What follows is basically the same timeline of events that Diana had given, but with slightly more detail and context added by Andrew Morton. Sadly, it felt largely like I was reading the same book twice. Morton did add chapters at the end about Diana's death, but that story is also widely known so there wasn't anything new there.
The book of course took a distinctly pro-Diana/anti-Royals stance. Personally I'm inclined to take Diana's side so I didn't mind this, but it could annoy some wanting a more balanced view. The book is in essence about Diana though, so the bias was to be expected.
This was just OK for me. The quality of writing wasn't anything special and the information wasn't much of a surprise. It was good to read everything in order though and I don't think there's anything else I need to know about Princess Diana now!
Since then I've always been mildly curious about the real story. Although not actively seeking the information, I've found myself watching and reading a few documentaries and news articles about her and her life as the wife of Prince Charles. When this book came up on the Kindle Daily Deal I felt compelled to download it. I'd never have paid full price for it, but there's no arguing with 99p to indulge a curiosity.
The first part of the book is direct transcripts of taped conversations with Diana. It's "in her own words", as the title states. Sadly there weren't many revelations there as I found I already knew much of it. That might not be the case for everyone though and I imagine at the time the book had a lot greater impact than it does these days. It's interesting that her words from 1991 now seem prophetic e.g. feeling that she'll never be Queen, a connection to France (where she died), and that she'd one day fall in love with a foreigner. All correct.
What follows is basically the same timeline of events that Diana had given, but with slightly more detail and context added by Andrew Morton. Sadly, it felt largely like I was reading the same book twice. Morton did add chapters at the end about Diana's death, but that story is also widely known so there wasn't anything new there.
The book of course took a distinctly pro-Diana/anti-Royals stance. Personally I'm inclined to take Diana's side so I didn't mind this, but it could annoy some wanting a more balanced view. The book is in essence about Diana though, so the bias was to be expected.
This was just OK for me. The quality of writing wasn't anything special and the information wasn't much of a surprise. It was good to read everything in order though and I don't think there's anything else I need to know about Princess Diana now!
October 11, 2018
I read the original however long ago it was. This was broken up into the original 'in her own words', an editorial of the original timeline and a post publication and her death.
It was horribly exploitative. I was a lot younger when I read this the first time. Now I just feel sorry for Diana.
Yikes
It was horribly exploitative. I was a lot younger when I read this the first time. Now I just feel sorry for Diana.
Yikes
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,878 reviews