Diana Princess of Wales by Mario Testino at Kensington Palace: Princess of Wales

Book Description

Diana, Princess of Wales at her most beautiful: the last portrait session by Mario Testino. Just five months before her tragic death in August 1997, Princess Diana was photographed by Mario Testino for Vanity Fair. Diana, Princess of Wales by Mario Testino at Kensington Palace brings together the most beautiful images from this last portrait sitting, displaying Diana in a state of relaxation and intimacy unlike any other. The selection of about seventy photographs includes many unseen images which, alongside previously published images, fill in the untold story of the shoot. Features include * Foreword by Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair * Introduction by Meredith Etherington-Smith, who played a major role in arranging the sitting in 1997 * Interview with Mario Testino conducted by Hamish Bowles

Customer Reviews:

Don't waste your $$.......2007-08-20

AWFUL! Only a few photos, repeated several times, most were out of focus. Would never have purchased if I could have looked inside. I guess that's why it was wrapped in plastic in a local bookstore.

The way Diana was never seen before.......2007-07-06

Although you can buy plenty of other books with photos of Diana, Testino photographed her like no one else. She looks casual, relaxed and happy in these photos. Diana does not look at all "glammed" up with excessive makeup and hair styling. The way you would see her at home, inspite of the gowns she wears in these photos. Testino captured a Diana that was probably only seen by family and friends, and in these shots he shared that Diana with the rest of the world.

A must have for Diana book collectors.......2007-02-24

I absolutely love the pictures of Diana in this book. I have been collecting Diana books for years and this is one of my all-time favorites.

Absolutely a must for a Diana fan. .......2007-01-16

This book is simply beautiful. It follows the photo shoot of Mario Testino's famous black and white photos of Diana. There is not a whole lot of text, simply beautiful photos. In fact, I wish they had lithographs of photos to purchase. Great book, a must have for the serious Diana fan.

Okay........2007-01-04

Though the pictures were beautiful and different from any other pictures we've seen of Diana, I didn't care for the style. Some were a little fuzzy and almost too casual. It seems like everyone was trying just a little hard to do something "different." It would be almost impossible to take a bad picture of her and I've read that she was pleased with the pictures. I wish there had been more text. This book just didn't click for me.

Average customer rating:

Beyond beautiful pictorial
The BEST pictorial Diana book out there
Beautiful Portrait Book
Who can believe that it's all in the past?
Beautiful Book of Memories

Diana: Portrait of a Princess
Jayne Fincher , and Judy Wade
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684853922
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Amazon.com

Alone among award-winning photographers, Jayne Fincher snapped some of the most private moments ever seen of the late Princess Diana. What's her secret? Perhaps it's because, as an official royal photographer, she did not provoke the fear and panic that outside photographers tragically did, and her status as the only woman in the pool of royal photographers somehow put the royal family and the Princess of Wales off their guard in her presence. Diana: Portrait of a Princess contains never-before-seen photos from the early 1980s until Diana's death in August of 1997. Fincher captures the shy, awkward Lady Spencer, the picture of innocence and bewilderment thrust onto the global stage. Later in this chronologically ordered collection we see this young woman evolve into the glamorous and sophisticated princess. Some of the most striking images reflect the raw emotion and revealing intimacy in Diana's life, such as the private moments in which you can sense her fiercely tender devotion to her sons. Many of the natural, spontaneous shots depict a deeply distressed woman, trapped in a world of conformity, while still other pictures illustrate the growing strain in her loveless marriage to Prince Charles. Royal writer Judy Wade worked with Fincher to provide the text to go with these, the best of Fincher's 30,000 candid images of Princess Di.

Book Description

Diana.

From her first exposure to the world as the girlfriend of the future King of England to her death as perhaps the most revered figure of the century, she captured the imagination and the love of literally hundreds of millions of people. And, from her first portrait of Lady Diana Spencer in 1980 to her last shoot months before Diana's tragic death and finally to Diana's funeral, Jayne Fincher -- the only female royal photographer working with the explicit approval and full cooperation of Buckingham Palace -- was there. Granted unprecedented access to the Princess of Wales and the extended royal family for 18 years, Fincher amassed an enormous archive of more than 30,000 striking images of Diana. She captured on film Diana's transformation from a shy, awkward teenager to an elegant and sophisticated woman. Diana: Portrait of a Princess collects in one spectacular volume for the first time ever the best of these extraordinary photographs.

Here are some of the most famous images of Diana ever published...and here also are hundreds of never-before-seen candids, outtakes, and portraits, the definitive photographic document of Diana's life -- as fiancee, wife, and then ex-wife of the Prince of Wales; as mother to princes William and Harry; as philanthropist, as ambassador, as fashion muse. But more than a simple collection of images, Diana: Portrait of a Princess is a personal and deeply felt memoir with behind-the-scenes insight into the moods and complex personality of Diana. This narrative, a collaborative effort with royal writer Judy Wade, incorporates detailed impressions and experiences gathered in photographing the Princess. Featuring more than 500 pictures -- three-quarters of them never before seen -- and including dozens of revealing anecdotes, Diana: Portrait of a Princess is all exquisite tribute to a woman who carried the hearts of the world in the palm of her hand.

Customer Reviews:

Beyond beautiful pictorial.......2006-04-15

It's very hard to believe that next year will be a whole decade since the untimely death of Diana, Princess of Wales. What's a shame is the fact that today's teenagers and those in their early-20's probably don't remember her and I'm sure the "Windsors" are in their glory over that.

But Jayne Fincher, royal photographer, has put together a coffee table book that is loaded with rarely published images of the one and only Princess of Wales and it should be a required addition to anyone's royal library.

Ms. Fincher's photographs really brought out Diana's natural charm and inner beauty and that's what makes this volume so special and the scope of the loss even deeper. (It's been hilarious seeing the paparazzi trying to find her replacement ever since 1997 with "winners" such as Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, and Angelina Jolie.)

In any case, this is a beautiful photography book and a tasteful tribute to Diana. - Donna Di Giacomo

The BEST pictorial Diana book out there.......2006-03-16

TONS and TONS of pictures -lots that aren't common- and interesting but brief stories explaining what she was doing in each photo, like where she was and general background on the situation. Photos by Jayne Fincher, who followed Diana all over the globe ever since she first appeared in on the royal stage in 1980. I love the layout of the photos and captions. Includes photos from her funeral. I own dozens of books on Princess Diana, from between 1981 and 2006, and this is by far my absolute favorite! It's a terrific, beautiful pictorial of her entire life, with just enough text to add some interesting stories as you flip through the thousands of photos.

Beautiful Portrait Book.......2005-04-11

This was a breathtakingly beautiful tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, but I wish there had been more text to go along with the incredible pictures. If you are a serious collector of Diana memorabilia or just a casual fan, this is one book you should own.

Who can believe that it's all in the past?.......2002-05-11

About 95% of DIANA: PORTRAIT OF A PRINCESS is photos, with only minimal narrative. And almost all of the photos were taken by Fincher, who was a royal photographer. The pictures are fantastic -- a couple just take my breath away. How could this exquisite person be gone? (see page 95) Surely, Diana was one of the most photogenic persons who ever lived. Here in the photos we watch her grow up, make fashion choices (not all good!) to find her own image, and create her own life just in time to lose it. Sometimes she looked a bit like a tired, frumpy housewife. In other pictures she's just perfection. The heavy, oversize book is divided into three parts: For Love, For Loyalty, For Liberty. The printing quality of the photos is EXCELLENT. This was a beautiful gift from my beloved niece, who knows me well. I must say, it makes an excellent gift. This book is one to keep and treasure.

Beautiful Book of Memories.......2002-05-09

This book is one of my favorite picture books of Diana. The pictures are just gorgeous, like the lady herself. For anyone who is a Diana fan, this book is for you...It really is beautiful.

Portraits of a Princess: Travels with Diana

Average customer rating:

Disappointing
A lovely way to remember her.
I was disappointed with this book.

Portraits of a Princess: Travels with Diana
Patrick Jephson
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0312337825
Release Date: 2004-10-21

Book Description

The dramatic public life of Diana, Princess of Wales was enacted against a backdrop of exciting foreign destinations.

These are inextricably linked to some of the most significant events in her own journey. Who can forget the lonely Princess at the Taj Mahal, the "War of the Waleses" in South Korea, the glamorous Diana, darling of Manhattan fundraisers, or the Queen of Hearts in an African refugee camp? These are just some of the unforgettable images revisited in Portraits of a Princess--Travels with Diana.

Patrick Jephson, Diana's private secretary for many years, gives his unique perspective of his time spent with the Princess. As the man who organized nearly all of her foreign travel and accompanied her on most of it, his viewpoint provides the book with a unique sense of authority.

For Portraits of a Princess Jephson reassembles the core team that worked with him on orchestrating Diana's worldwide crusade: the press secretary, the security chief and the Princess's personal assistant.

From this unmatched archive of experience came candid and entertaining anecdotes which add colour to fascinating behind-the-scenes details of the logistics of a royal superstar on tour: how the press coverage was organized and orchestrated, how the protocol experts were kept happy and how transport and security requirements were adapted to suit Diana's revolutionary royal style.

Other experts comment on the Princess's changing fashion tastes as her wardrobe evolved from the "Shy Di" of the joint tours to the confident glamour icon of Washington society balls or the hands-on charity leader in Africa.

Again and again, as we retrace the Princess's footstep, Jephson asks, "Did she make a difference?"

These striking portraits answer that question.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2005-01-19

The book contains several inaccurate informations on dates and places - which is surprinsing for an author who was previously the princess's private secretary. The so called never-seen-before photos are almost none, especially if you are a serious Diana fan.

A lovely way to remember her........2004-12-18

Diana, the Princess of Wales, is in the news again, with "new" videotaped interviews being shown on television seven years after her death in a car crash in a Paris tunnel. Although he isn't the one releasing the videotapes, Patrick Jephson, who served for six years as her first and only private secretary, has just released a new book, "Portraits of a Princess: Travels with Diana," in which he reveals fascinating behind-the-scenes details of what it was like to work for and travel with the princess. He combines his text with photos by award-winning royal photographer Kent Gavin.

The book includes 300 black and white or color photos of Diana, 150 of which were previously unpublished. There really are lots of photos here. The text is a sometimes emotional memoir written by someone who obviously admired her. The photos cover the range of her life in the public eye, from her first awkward experiments with fashion to her later, confident style, as she evolved "from Prince Charles's diffident consort into an independent, global force for good." The author shows Diana as "ambassador" to people all over the world, from monarchs and world leaders to the lowliest on the street and in hospitals. He describes her as "an unbeatable combination of fashion and compassion."
But Jephson had writing help: Kent Gavin wrote the foreword, titled "The View from Inside the Press Pen." There's a chapter called "Travels of a Royal Press Secretary" written by Dickie Arbiter. And there's another chapter on "Diana's Style" written by Ollie Picton-Jones, the fashion director for the Daily Mirror.

Jephson ends the book with an epilogue titled "Did She Make a Difference?" Obviously, he thinks she did. This is a lovely gift for those royal-watchers among us who still can't quite believe she's gone.

I was disappointed with this book........2004-12-06

Mr. Jephson's first book "Shadows of a Princess" was alternately praising of the Princess and then would tear her down so I was a bit wary of this book.
I think it takes a nicer tone about the Princess this time, describing trips she made to various countries (each with it's own chapter) with Jephson in tow. For your money I find that you'll be getting what amounts to a medium sized picture book with large print text. Kent Gavin's long introduction is actually the best, most informative part of the text, Jephson puts too much of himself in his writing. The pictures, well you've seen most of them before, they're still good anyway.
There are a couple of chapters at the end by other writers about traveling with Diana, also better than what Jephson himself wrote.
It isn't the worst book to own but I'd still prefer Rosalind Coward's book.

Rock and Royalty: The Ever-Changing Look of Versace's Couture As See--and Modeled--by the Kings, Queens, and Jokers of Rock & Roll

Average customer rating:

Gianni Versace, a Fashion Genuis
excellent!
A note from Maureen Farquhar
Rock and Royality - Versace
Great, glamourous book!

Rock and Royalty: The Ever-Changing Look of Versace's Couture As See--and Modeled--by the Kings, Queens, and Jokers of Rock & Roll

Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0789201771

Amazon.com

The title of fashion designer Gianni Versace's new book references his diverse clientele, who not only wear his clothing but also impact his designs: rock & roll queens Tina Turner and Madonna, fashion princesses Kate and Naomi, design lords Lagerfeld and Armani, and even the real deal, Diana, Princess of Wales. Photos of these and other fashion mavens, both in and out of Versace clothing, are interspersed with images of royalty throughout history, such as Queen Victoria, Empress Catherine of Russia, and a young Queen Elizabeth. The aesthetic juxtaposition of history and modernity, depicted in black-and-white photographs and colorful artwork, echoes the energy of the fashion world and captures the influential style of its inhabitants. The royalties from the sale of Rock and Royalty will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Customer Reviews:

Gianni Versace, a Fashion Genuis.......2002-06-11

Gianni Versace was a designer who loved to push the envelope. His clothes were a mixture of extremes: sexy, sleazy, colorful, tacky, and elegant. One adjective you'd never find in a sentence with the word Versace is "boring." His clothes commanded--and often got--attention, which is why he was such a favorite among celebrities such as Madonna, Elton John, Liz Hurley, Courtney Love, Prince, Jon Bon Jovi and even Princess Diana. This book is a fabulous, eye-opening collection of vivid photographs of models and rock stars in Versace: from Prince to the members of British boy band Take That. Some outfits are more releaving than others, but they're all unmistakably Versace. Diana herself is also included in the book, along with a few words of praise for the designer. Tragically, Versace was murdered in the summer of 1997, but his spirit and influence live on. This book comes highly recommended. Drop it on your coffeetable, and your guests won't want to put it down.

excellent!.......2001-11-12

A must have book for all Versace fans.

A note from Maureen Farquhar.......2000-03-10

Fantastic photography in another large book from Versace. This book captures the 'rock chic' glamourama which the late Versace excelled at creating. The association between 'Rock and Roll', and art is full indulged here creating a empirical illusion to the Versace dynasty. The glossy presentation of the images also adds to an overall feeling of luxury. The only reason I have not given this book the top rating is for its inclusion of Elton John - who makes me sick. So what if its expensive, luxuries like this don't come cheap. ciao,

Maureen Farquhar (maureenfarquhar@yahoo.com)

Rock and Royality - Versace.......1999-09-19

This book gives a look into the classic, Calabrian influenced, luxury of Versace. This volume serves as a record of the pure decadant genius of this mega Italian talent.

Great, glamourous book!.......1999-08-22

For all of you who loves Gianni Versace clothes and really admire what he had done to the world of fashion I recommend you to have this incredible book.

Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess

Average customer rating:

An intelligent portrait of a disturbed modern icon
Another Point of View
Princess Diana :Coming Apart At The Scenes?
No Fairy Tale Here
A Hard Book To Read for Fans of the Late Princess Diana

Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess
Sally Bedell Smith
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0451201086
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Amazon.com

The Diana who was in search of herself was, according to this relatively beefy addition to the writings on the late princess, engaged in a futile exercise. Born after her parents tried three unsuccessful times to produce a male heir--two older sisters and a brother who died within hours of birth preceded Diana Spencer's arrival--she felt unwanted from the start. Her mother's abandonment of the family six years later compounded Diana's feelings of self-worthlessness. At a tender age, the girl who would grow up to be the beloved Princess of Wales had already irrevocably lost her sense of self. The book, which relies heavily on the accounts of anonymous intimates of the late princess, describes her as a deeply conflicted character. A friend is quoted as saying, "Her dark side was that of a wounded trapped animal ... and her bright side was that of a luminous being." The strikingly tall, blond princess who cradled young cancer victims and graciously accepted flowers from admirers, who frolicked on camera with her young sons and flashed her sparkling smile as she exited limousines, was often sulky, depressed, and vengeful in private. "Why?" one might wonder--if volumes hadn't already been written about the awful truth of her life.

Author Sally Bedell Smith revisits the well-trod ground of Charles's continuing love affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, Diana's intimidation by her royal in-laws, and her push-me, pull-me relationship with the voracious paparazzi. In addition, she details Diana's numerous love affairs and her acts of self-mutilation and bizarre behavior, such as the incident in which she tap-danced alone in her room until she wore down the wood parquet. Prince Charles comes off as a sympathetic if somewhat wimpy character, while, as the book progresses, Diana grows into a woman navigating the fine line between neurosis and full-blown psychosis. At the time of her marriage, the princess is quoted as saying she was "so in love with my husband that I couldn't take my eyes off him. I just absolutely thought I was the luckiest girl in the world." Years later, she would recall this same day thus: "The day I walked down the aisle at St. Paul's Cathedral, I felt that my personality was taken away from me, and I was taken over by the royal machine." Her bulimia (even while pregnant with Prince William), paranoia, lying, and flightiness are all confirmed in Smith's tome but they are commingled with testimonials to the late princess's generosity, intuition, genuine warmth, and ability to put anyone at ease. Diana was fine--to wit sane--as long as she was in a safe environment. The bosom of the royal family was not one of those havens. But she wasn't a passive victim--her famous comment about her marriage being overcrowded, involving three people, presumably herself, the prince, and Parker Bowles--wasn't quite true, as she was also having an affair at the time, bringing the number up to four.

All of these excruciating details--including Smith's analysis of how long the Dodi and Diana match would have lasted, had they not been killed that night in Paris--seem to be carefully researched and attributed when the source allows it, and build to the grand crescendo of the book, in which Smith proffers her diagnosis of the princess's mental health. The punchline here is that the tabloid assertions that hounded Diana throughout her lifetime, asserting that she was "loony," "potty," a "basket case," or "barking mad," may have held more than a kernel of truth. But if the princess was as expert a manipulator as the book suggests, no one, it seems, could ever hope to know the whole truth. --Jordana Moskowitz

Book Description

"A tantalizing peek into the living museum that is European royalty and a portrait of Diana as a mentally ill princess."-Washington Post Book World

"If you're going to read one Diana book, this should be it."-Newsweek

"Diana in Search of Herself tempts us to look again at the iconic princess, whose boundless charm, energy, and warmth contrasted wildly with her mood swings, bulimia, and shaky sense of self, all of which Smith addresses in this balanced analysis of the most charismatic member of the British royal family."-Elle"Smith has done the best any responsible writer can-she has taken a fairy-tale princess and rendered her as a believable woman who, borderline personality or not, is somehow more likable for her struggle against psychological troubles."-Atlanta Journal & Constitution

"At once morbidly fascinating and profoundly sad...Princess Diana's life seems less a candle in the wind than an accident waiting to happen."-Boston Globe

"A chilling vision of loneliness, need and untreated mental illness."-USA Today

"She offers a fascinating account of Diana's aristocratic upbringing...She also provides perhaps the fullest account to date of Diana's half-dozen or so love affairs."-Dallas Morning News

"Compelling."-New York Daily News

Customer Reviews:

An intelligent portrait of a disturbed modern icon.......2007-01-10

This is perhaps the only serious piece of writing on the late Princess of Wales that I have read. While not presented as a scholarly biography (we'll need to wait years for that), the book does take several steps back from the hysteria and romanticized adulation attending Diana's years on earth and attempts to provide objective analysis rather than breathless, tabloid-style speculation. Diana fans for whom she could do no wrong may be outraged by Bedell Smith's detailed portrait and her conclusions; this is a book only for thoughtful readers who are willing to set aside their preconceptions of the subject.

Although Bedell Smith is by no means the first person to suggest that Diana was suffering from a clinically-defined mental illness, Borderline Personality Disorder (called by some "Emotion Dysregulation Disorder"), her discussion of the subject helps shed some light both on her subject's behavior and the fate of her disastrous marriage. This is interesting material, and the author was brave to include it, given the manner in which Diana continues to be idolized by her admirers.

Reasonably well-written and readable, meticulously-researched and documented. Especially recommended to those who take a jaundiced view of the modern cult of celebrity.

Another Point of View.......2006-05-03

While you may not agree with the point of view that Smith takes in this book... it is a well written book. Easy to read and interesting.

Princess Diana :Coming Apart At The Scenes?.......2005-04-13

The book jacket of this novel describes it "as the authoritative biography of one of the most fabled women of the century". I would describe this novel as an attempt to delve into the psyche of the most fabled woman of the century.

Sally Bedell Smith, the author worked at TV Guide and The New York Times, where she was a cultural-news reporter. She joined Vanity Fair as a contributing editor in 1996. She was awarded a Sigma Delta Chi Distinguished Service Award for magazine reporting in 1982, and she was a fellow at the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center in 1986. She has written several books of famous people, the Kennedy's, William Paley and Pamela Churchill Harriman.

Diana, Price of Wales died traumatically in 1997 in Paris. We all watched her funeral and the clip after clip of her automobile accident. We have heard and read every story about Diana, and all of the numerous TV movies and films made about her. However, it is not until this book, have I seen her diagnosed with a mental illness without benefit of a physician and psychiatrist, but with only the words of friends and acquaintances. Ms Bedell Smith says that Diana suffered from a borderline personality disorder. That is such a generalized term that can describe each one of us at certain times in our life. Certainly, Diana had her problems, her bulimia, shyness, lack of ego and insecurity. But this young woman was thrust into the middle of a dysfunctional royal family with no mentor and it appears little love and support. Who knows what the real story was or what Diana could have made of her life. She left behind two young men to carry on her name in the royal tradition. The author attempts to diagnose and describe Diana by the symptoms she showed the world in the most unrealistic of environments. I prefer to remember the Diana of charity and good works and beloved by her countrymen. This book does not provide the evidence needed to prescribe or diagnose Diana. Let us leave her alone. The people of the United Kingdom will revere her as we all did at one time. prisrob

No Fairy Tale Here.......2004-12-25

Before reading this book, I was mostly a "pro-Diana" person. Certainly, it was apparent that she had problems-bulimia, moodiness,affairs-but Charles completely to blame, right? It seemed that Diana was fine until she was undermined by Charles and the supposedly horrible royal family.

But I have to say that this account has forced my to remove Diana from the altar I'd placed her on. Usually, a biography that was so ruthlessly slanted would not sway me so much, yet I see no reason why Bedell Smith would have written something so damaging to Diana's image if it were not true. She's not well-connected to Charles or the royal family...and she's American. But more than this lack of bias, Bedell Smith's conclusions are based on plain-old, cold-hard facts. She extensively quotes newspapers, books, Diana's own words, and a varied group of people (both friends and others) who knew Diana to prove her thesis about Diana's personality disorder.

This book is so disturbing and so saddening because it challenges what most of us Diana fans have always thought. According to Smith, Diana was paranoid, selfish, popularity-starved, immature, possessive, and not even that stellar of a charity patron. Smith chronicles Diana's bizarre behavior with lovers, her shoddy treatment of friends, her refusal to obtain necessary psychological help, her immature "games" with newspaper editors, and the way she handled charity patronage toward the end of her life. Unfortunately, by the time you have finished the book, Smith's impeccable, thorough analysis will leave you hard pressed to argue that Diana WAS stable.

Some might say that some of these incidents could have been unfairly recounted by the author. But a vast majority of the unpleasant portrayals contain black and white facts that cannot be twisted or "fudged." Really, how can one deny a police report of Diana's 300-plus calls (over a period of weeks) to her married lover? And what about her tearful pleas for a private life following her separation from Charles...and then her meetings with newspaper editors so that she could gain control over what they wrote?

Admittedly, Smith was a bit too easy on Charles. She seemed to imply that yes, Charles was having an affair, but that Diana would have been an unstable wreck even if he wasn't seeing Camilla. She also (in perhaps the only flagrantly questionable statement in the book), hinted that after her marriage, rather than harrassing her husband about whether or not he was having an affair, Diana should have used her youthful charms and beauty to win over Charles. How does that make any sense?

In conclusion, this book is very hard on Diana. And ultimately, who is to know that total truth about Diana? Who is to know if she really was a kind and admirable human being under it all, or if the irrational wreck often portrayed by Smith was all there was? But certainly, "Diana: In Search of Herself" is a valuable book that serves to intelligently question the often-blind assumption of Diana's "sainthood."

A Hard Book To Read for Fans of the Late Princess Diana.......2003-10-03

In this well researched biography, Ms. Bedell Smith, does not
paint a pretty picture of the late, Diana,Princess of Wales.
With reliable sources, she shows an immature girl who like many
young girls before her,did not look beyond the alter, at the time she married the future King.She had just turned "twenty"and
enourmous expectations were put upon her shoulders.A child
affected by the bitter divorce,of the parents she loved,Diana
had need of help to survive an ordinary marriage,let alone one
to a public figure.
Intellectually, Charles and Diana were miles apart.She made
up for this with her natural street smarts, and quick humorous
remarks.
There is nothing more boring than reading the break-up of a
marriage but Ms. Bedell Smith handles this subject with
exceptional care.
When Prince Charles on the BBC publicly stated he never loved
Diana,how humiiating for her..Apparently, much violence had
preceeded this cruel remark,but the public was unaware of

mistreatment at Diana's hands.Diana, was humiliated and felt
Charles only married her to provide heirs to the throne.
According to more than one source, Charles' betrayal by having a mistress, gave Diana license in her mind to have numerous discreet affairs,searching for some love and stability.
This usually backfired,causing her more despair in her too
short life.She remarked "the only men I trust are my sons."
Here she deserves credit.Her personal schedule was carefully
planned around her young son's school vacations.She was a
hands on Mother.She dressed her boys casually,took them on fun vacations, and like mother's everywhere recognized their
differences and adored them.
Despite the stories of her bulemia and irrational behavior,and her quasi suicide attempts,her joy in her son's should be commended.
Was Diana already a troubled individual? Or did her husbands
lack of love turn her into an unbearable person? It is hard
for even the author to answer.Surely, too much was asked of a young girl who was not born royal, and had a 12 year age difference to overcome.
However,it is pointed out out Prince Charles was not responsible
for all her problems and they were many.
In the beginning of their marriage, both Queen Elizabeth
and Prince Charles sought psychiatric help with some of
Englands'best Doctors, for her fragile state when she returned
from the honeymoon.She was unable to trust them.
Later in her life , she sought help of the New Age Variety involving aromatherapy,astrology,feng shui,and colonic
irrigations which she felt purified her.
She wanted to be glamorous and yet she sought to help the
handicapped and the poor and downtrodden.
There was never a dull moment when Diana joined the Royal Family.Would she have married Dodi Fayed or was he a summer
fling?
No book can ever have the answers on this beautiful but
troubled young woman who held our intrique.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful & Ravishing !

4 stars - for the pictures

Lovely

This is a lovely tribute to the late princess.

The true Princess Royal

Diana: A Tribute in Photographs
Michael O'Mara
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312184239

Amazon.com

Diana's love/hate relationship with the camera is evident from countless photos snatched by ruthless paparazzi. But Diana: Princess of Wales presents an adoring portrait of this widely admired and gentle woman. The book's 200-plus beautiful photographs chronicle Diana's life from early childhood through her somber funeral. The images range from a giggly schoolgirl to a still-playful mother to the perfect English rose celebrated in song.

Michael O'Mara, one of Britain's leading editors of books about the princess, chose his own favorite pictures for publication in this book, including those taken by Diana's father and by Patrick Demarchelier in the 1990s. Many of these photos were also Diana's favorites, taken with full permission. A donation from the sale of each copy will go to the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. --Gina Kaysen

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful & Ravishing !.......2006-07-09

I just loved this huge/thick Book...The pictures are simply AWESOME & HRH Princess Lady Diana looks simply BEAUTIFUL (whether as a child, teenager, youth, adult, wife, mother, social worker or as a Princess)...So go BUY it, if u still LOVE her the way I do.

4 stars - for the pictures.......2001-08-01

This book is a memorial edition of a similar book these guys did of the Princess some time before her death. It has quite a few pictures that you'll rarely see elsewhere, probably because O'Mara is our pal Andrew Morton's publisher and they had worked with him and in effect used the Princess to get a hot seller.

Lovely.......2001-06-02

This is by far one of the best and most tasteful photographic remembrances for the late princess. The pictures, ranging from her childhood to her public duties as Princess of Wales, all show Diana as the real, beautiful, kind, wonderful, HUMAN person she was. You don't just see the public photographs of her, but also, as has been said in reviews before, personal photographs from her family albums. This is a fabulous book, and most definitely recommended!

This is a lovely tribute to the late princess........1998-12-31

O'Mara in his tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, uses pictures which were taken by her father, the late Earl Spencer for her years as a toddler, her childhood, and her youth. Naturally, he selects those which were her favorites. His photographic tribute begins with Diana as a toddler and goes through her untimely and tragic death. This tribute contains many photographs from her childhood and youth which I had never seen before.

In the forward, O'Mara writes: " I once wrote that Diana, Princess of Wales, was the most loved person in the world. Now that she has been tagically taken from us, I realise that my words were not strong enough. Diana was a treasure; not just a national treasure, for her light was too bright to shine in one country alone, but a treasure to be shared with the world. The unprecedented level of worldwide grief for her has shown that the people's princess had no equal and can never be replaced. ....

"In preparing this tribute to Diana I have been stuck by the warmth that beams out from the Diana in the pictures - beautiful? Naturally - but it is that straight-forward human warmth of her expression which leaves the lasting impression."

O'Mara has each picture tastefully arranged and captioned according to place, date, etc. This is truly a beautiful tribute to a beautiful, young princess who will live forever in our hearts.

This is a hardback book which measures 83/4x12 inches and contains 160 pages.

The true Princess Royal.......1998-06-01

I was lucky to go to the preauction showing of her gowns with my professor. This woman epitomizes what a 20th Century princess and Princess Royal should be. She is the true Once and Future Queen of England and Charles should be truly ashamed of himself and his selfish, immature behavior.

Average customer rating:

Sailorman
Diana , What a Lady!
STUNNING!!!!
A Must Have For Any Fan of Diana and her work.
A beautiful portrait

Diana: The Portrait
Rosalind Coward
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 0740747134
Release Date: 2004-08-30

Book Description

The tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales, shook the world. No one who lived through those days in the late summer of 1997 will ever forget the unprecedented outpourings of grief, shock, and anger that followed. And in the days leading up to her funeral, it seemed as if the whole of humanity had spontaneously united to mourn her loss.But who was this young woman who had come to symbolize so much to so many? How was it that she could reach out to touch lives not only of whole communities but individuals, too? What lay behind her inspiration-and what will be the lasting impact of her legacy? No book yet written about Diana has come close to the person so many people speak of as having been a beacon of light in their lives. Here, for the first time, is the Diana that many of those closest to her knew. Written with the full cooperation of the late princess's estate, Diana: The Portrait tells Diana's story through her own words and the words of people, both famous, and, until now, unknown. Beautifully designed, it is a lavishly illustrated with nearly 500 images of Diana, including many pictures never previously published, taken from sources including the Spencer family archive, the Althorp Museum, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund archive, and the private collections of the friends, charities, and individuals whose lives she touched. Drawing on over 200 original interviews, including those of family members and friends, many of whom have never spoken before, this remarkable book will stand as a unique and lasting testament to the life and work of one of the extraordinary and enduring icons of the 20th century.

Customer Reviews:

Sailorman.......2007-09-09

I bought this book as a gift for my 97 year old mother (still mentally alert and an avid reader) and had it delivered to her house. She complained that the print was beach colored and very light and she couldn't read it but that the pictures were beautiful. Assuming that I had received a bad copy I went to a Barns and Noble store, purchased a second copy, and sent it to her.

Upon inspecting the second copy, prior to sending it, I quickly discovered what the problem was. The font size in this book is very tiny; so small I have to struggle to see it and I have intraocular lens implants and read a couple of books a week. I solved the problem by including a big magnifying glass in the book shipment.

The bottom line is; the print in this book is just too small for older eyes. Otherwise, it's a beautiful book.

Diana , What a Lady!.......2006-11-17

This is a well organize book. The photos are excellent. I have seem most of the photos, but not all. This book is well put together. As I turn the pages, I remember the outfits and events. This would make an excellent gift for a Diana fan.

STUNNING!!!!.......2006-02-10

I have this book and let me tell you, this books has the most beautiful and stunning photographs of the Princess Diana I have ever seen. I am so glad that my birthday is 2 weeks after hers (july 1st) mine is July 13th!!!! I just love looking at the photos, especially with her 2 sons William and Harry. This is a book I will treasure forver of our beloved princess. What a remarkable women. I suggest for those who haven,t read or seen the amazing photographs in here should.

A Must Have For Any Fan of Diana and her work........2005-11-05

I love Princess Diana. I love Diana so much that I went to Althorp to pay my respects to her. This book, Diana: A Portrait brought back those memories. The book is filled with photos of Diana throughout her life, not just when she was a princess. Many of the photos come straight from items that are on display at the exhibit at Althorp, such as her school uniform and report cards. I feel that the book is a companion to that visit I made. If you get the opportunity to go to Althorp, by all means do go. If you can not get to Althorp, this book brings the Althorp exhibit and feeling to you. The photos are beautiful as is the text about Diana's life. The price tag is steep, but this book is a must for a Diana fan. As the exhibit says: The work continues.

A beautiful portrait.......2005-08-15

"Diana, the Portrait" is a beautiful compilation of pictures, stories, and events in Diana's life. Just like a portrait, it shows the princess at her best. This is not an expose and I'm glad it wasn't. The most poignant sections of the book are the parts dealing with Diana's tragic death. There are copies of Elton John's handwritten lyrics for "Good-bye England's Rose" as well as many of Diana's own letters. I received this as a gift, right after seeing the Diana exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in Fort Lauderdale. Many aspects of the exhibits are included in the "Portrait" and I think will be enjoyed by any fan of Diana's. It is a very flattering portrayal, as it should be.

Average customer rating:

This is a warm tribute to the late princess.
Best photos of the bunch
Spiritual Role Model
The Best of the best Diana Books
A glorious, beautiful homage to the Princess of Hearts

Diana, Princess of Wales: A Tribute
Tom Corby
Manufacturer: Benford Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1566495997

Customer Reviews:

This is a warm tribute to the late princess........1999-02-02

This is a warm and loving tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. All facets of Diana's life are covered from the time she first blinked into the camera as teenager through her funeral services on September 6, 1997.

The photographer for this book has photographed the Royal Family for twenty-five years and has traveled in over a hundred countries throughout the world with them. The text was written by Tom Corby who has been associated with the Royal Family for about fifteen years. I possess a couple of his books.

These two - Granham and Corby - have assembled a beautiful book which is filled with beautiful and outstanding pictures. All of the pictures are in color. Corby wrote the text to acompany the pictures. This is a great book which any collector of books on the Royal Family should have in his collection. Also, it is great for one who like to read about and look at gorgeous pictures of the late, Diana, Princess of Wales.

This is a hardcover boook which contains 96 pages and measure 91/2x12 inches

Best photos of the bunch.......1997-12-11

I had the pleasure of looking through all the Diana photo books in Amazon's warehouse in Seattle. Since they do have the best selection, I am confident that this and the O'mara Diana book offer the finest quality photos of any available. Many of the others contain photos with poor lighting or low resolution.

Spiritual Role Model.......1997-12-02

I am sure Diana,Prncess of Wales did what she did because it came from her heart. Being a doctor I am hesitant to touch people with aids or leprosy or homeless people. She bridged the impossible and was Christ-like to the least of our brethren. I was in London during the funeral when we started the St Therese Centennial Pilgrimage with 40 co-American pilgrims mostly priests or nuns or holy men and women. We were touched by her life and this book said all the things I wanted to express and much more. My life will never be the same and I will be be a better doctor and individual in my service to my patients and family because of DIANA,Princess of Wales. God bless her and her sons. May she rest in PEACE! Dr. Elizabeth Tioleco-Cheng USA

The Best of the best Diana Books.......1997-10-11

This is a beautifully put together book about our Princess. It was produced by someone who she knew and let in her world to photograph the pictures that meant the most to her. The commentary is very well done and shows a loving tribute to someone who deserves to be remembered as probably the best example of goodness in human beings. A book well worth buying and owning. A must for everyone who loved and admired Diana, Princess of Wales.

A glorious, beautiful homage to the Princess of Hearts.......1997-10-04

A beautifully produced book by someone who knew her from "Shy Di" to mother, single woman and finally the concerned woman who cared about charities, from landmines to AIDS. Gorgeous photographs of her throughtout her brief glorious life. Not exploitive, but joyful.

Average customer rating:

Princess Diana: Lady of Fashion

Manufacturer: Outlet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0517414902

Average customer rating:

Good For What It's Good For
This is a great book/
Good but not the best on this topic.
Interesting and informative with excellent photos.

Diana, Queen of Style
Jackie Modlinger
Manufacturer: Courage Bks.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

History | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0762404051

Customer Reviews:

Good For What It's Good For.......2000-07-07

This book will not change your life, but if you like to look at pictures of Diana in her lovely clothes looking lovely herself, this is a pretty volume, well designed and pleasant to browse through. The text will not set the standard for the industry, however, so if you are looking for more in depth reviews of her fashions or her biography, you could make a better choice.

Bottom Line: It's a lovely treat to spend an afternoon with this book if you're not interested in anything new or innovative. Enjoy it for what it is, an attractive book about an attractive woman.

This is a great book/.......1999-03-25

Prince Charles has said that he likes to see a lady well dressed; however, I don't think he was ever able to cope with his late ex-wife's beauty, charisma, elegance, poise, and humor. He could not accept the fact that people would rather see his radiant wife who was royal by marriage, but a far cry from the traditional, stuffy royal. I think his envy was one reason for the breakup of their marraige. This book covers every phase of Diana's multifaceted life.

Even as a Sloane Ranger, Diana had outstanding tast in the style of clothes she wore and in the accessaries she chose to wear with each outfit. This book contains many beautiful pictures of Diana which have never been seen before.

It's difficult to believe this beautiful, young princess is no longer alive because each picture of her radiates such warmth. Diana often recycled many of her dresses by having different little touches added or by having something deleted. Diana possessed the ability to combine the most expensive jewelry with costume jewelry. She, also, liked color and chose to wear colors which no royal before her had done. Diana like to shop and what modern lady doesn't? Again, something royals didn't do.

Truly, Diana is "Queen of Style." This book is well written and shows that Diana could wear many varieties of color, dresses, jewelry, etc. with which no one before her dared to experiement. All pictures are in color except for a couple. This book is a must for anyone who collects books on Diana, Princess of Wales.

Good but not the best on this topic........1998-10-28

This book is good but not the best on this particular topic--Diana and her fashions. It makes many mistakes, such as identifying a Valentino dress as a Catherine Walker design. The text is mostly adulatory and simply describes things you could see for yourself by looking at the pictures (of which there are many). Topics such as her weight loss are touched upon, then dropped. The text needed an editor.

The photos, however, are lovely.

Interesting and informative with excellent photos........1998-09-15

Both interesting and informative, this book chronicles the late Princess Diana's fashion history from her engagement days through her last year. With details gathered from her favorite designers, photos describing each period show how Diana emerges from her look as a trendy Sloane Ranger to the style icon she became. This book is a 'must' for any collector.

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