Diana

Rating:
Summary: She is trying really hard to potray herself as "POOR DIANA"
Review: I thought the book was really enlighting. It seems as if the author jumped from this time, to that time, and back to this time, an awful lot. I felt sorry for Diana, although I know I shouldnt have. It seems as if she is trying really hard to blame everyone around her (mostlly her husband) for everything that ever went wrong. Just sounded like she didnt want to take any responsibiliy for anything she EVER did that might have been wrong. This is the first book I have read about the Princess of Wales, but she has always interested me. If you are thinking of reading it, do so. While I was reading it I just tryed to keep in mind, that when this book was originally writen, the Princess of Wales, and the Prince of Wales were BOTH trying very hard to make the other look bad. I do believe the things that are in the book, however, I also try to make up my own mind about it. In every relationship that has ever went bad, there is his story, her story, and somewhere between these two stories you will find the truth.

Rating:
Summary: Very Best Insights
Review: I too came to this book with a deep sense of skepticism. Was it simply a re-hash to separate me from some $$? I'm glad to say that it's not the case at all. Morton brings his extraordinary insights into the totality of Diana's life and the ongoing influence on perception of the Royal family to write a book that is fresh and compelling. A real page-turner.
I join those who think he has simply gone too far in his belittling of Burrell the Butler. It's an egregious problem with the book because it sounds like an ax to grind.
For the time being, though, I think this is really the last word on the life, death and influence of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Rating:
Summary: A pretty good book to own, some bias shown in it
Review: I'd read that this book was mostly the same old stuff warmed over, I found it to be much different than I expected. It's been years since I read the last of Morton's Diana books and this one does have some new material. What were the first ones called? Her True Story & Her New Life? This one tells how it all came about in the first place and is the first time I've read so many of the details. You do not get a lot of the stuff that was printed in the other books, nor in that updated version he rushed out almost before the funeral (he doesn't bother to talk about that)but you will learn more about what happened at the time. This is the first time I've read much about James Colthurst and hs involvement, he's mentioned in quotes but not recent ones.
The worst thing I found in the book was the way Morton seems to promote himself as Diana's protector/ helper, even claiming (with Colthurst) to have advised her on things, and helping write some speeches. He never even hints that he might have any responsibility for the difficulties "Her True Story" caused the Princess when it came out. He gets mean about Martin Bashir and the infamous Panorama interview and starts out belittling Paul Burrell's role in Diana's life then gets vicious (especially about his book and post royal life) as he goes on. Somehow I don't think Paul Burrell deserves a lot of what Morton dishes out and feel it reflects a feeling of "Diana is my story , I'm the man to tell it, no one else can do so well". If he'd left the rip Burrell stuff out and, maybe, shown the Princess a little more respect himself I'd give this book another star, it is a good book.

Rating:
Summary: NOTHING NEW IN THIS BOOK
Review: I've read almost every book ever written about Diana. This contains no new information. It is the standard stuff-how Prince Charles cheated on her, how she had affairs with James Hewitt, Hasnat Khan, Dodi Fayed. I've read it all before. The only thing that I found interesting is how Andrew Morton portrays Diana's butler, Paul Burrell, who wrote "A Royal Duty." He makes several unflattering comments about the butler and in so many words, accuses him of lying about many things. We will never know the real truth about Diana.

Rating:
Summary: Just another vile attempt to make money off of Diana.
Review: In the past I have read many of this authors books, this one however, struck me as rather vulgar. It was published with one thought in mind...the make $$$$$, just the thing Diana detested.If Diana wanted the masses to know it was a firstperson account, she would have told Mr. Morton to do so. I was also very disturbed by the books contents & it's timing.Diana is made out to be this whinning,petty & mentally unbalanced woman bent on revenaging Charles for his lack of fidelity.This is not the Diana I loved....I will always treasure the time she put on this Earth and cherish all her wonderful qualities. I too, was rather depressed after reading this tome.

Rating:
Summary: Quite a Handful!
Review: It's difficult to separate this book's historical and popular value from Morton's circuitous writing style. Suffice it to say, Diana's story is gripping and terribly shocking, but Morton's lack of organization (seeming to flit from topic to topic amd time to time, skimming over some details and laboriously outlining others) drove me absolutely nuts. Since it's come to light that Diana herself basically handed him this story, it's interesting to consider if, in reality, it's the former princess's own beleagured mind at fault. Anyway, I would definitely recommend reading this book because Diana's story is an undeniable facet in modern history, but be prepared to spend time on it, sorting it out chronologically and prioritically (if that's even a word).

Rating:
Summary: Just when you thought you knew all there was about Diana....
Review: Just when you think you knew everything there was to be known about someone as famous as Diana, along come's Morton's compelling book. It reminds me of "THE Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth" by Richard G. Patton in which another figure we all think we know is shown in an entirely fresh and convincing light. Morton shows us the vulnerable Diana we all wept for. I wonder what Jesus would have made of present day media attention and what stories he could swap. The media don't fare well in Morton's study of Diana. Good or bad, this book will always be historically linked with "the people's Princess". I enjoyed it very much.

Rating:
Summary: A superb, level-headed overview of Diana from 1991 onward
Review: Morton combines information from many sources to cover the period from 1991, including her secret collaboration with him on his earlier book, to her death in 1997 plus more recent events such as the Paul Burrell revelations.

There is a pattern in the books by Wharfe, Burrell, Jephson (all of whom worked closely with her) and this book: All four authors strain to deny that Diana had mental health problems, yet they all portray her as incredibly insecure and emotionally volatile. Morton tells us that she would constantly phone her friends for consolation, as many as twenty(!) times a day in the case of one platonic male friend. Although Morton portrays her mental health as positively as he can, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that Diana was a black hole of emotional neediness.

However, on the charge of Diana being paranoid, it seems like a classic case of "You're not paranoid - they really are out to get you." According to Morton, Diana worried about servants going through her mail (they were), servants taking strangers into her bedroom for a fee (they were), and the government tapping her phone lines (they were). Many people associated with Diana reported being followed or having their homes burgled in a way that suggested something other than ordinary criminal activity. An ongoing mystery surrounds the explicit phone conversation between Charles and Camila which was made public, where it appears that a government agency taped the call and then, much later, broadcast it on frequencies monitored by hobbyists. Morton discusses the alleged activities of British secret agencies, but important questions remain unanswered.

For followers of the events surrounding Diana, this is a must-read, pulling together recent events and sorting rumor from fact, and in particular, offering a level-headed commentary on Paul Burrell.

Rating:
Summary: Same old, same old
Review: Morton has nothing new in this book.. He mentions his first book about Diana about 10,000 times during the read. It is the same old, same old. If you have read the butler's book and all the other books writen about this woman over the years what could anyone write that would be earth shaking new?

I think he must need money. Why else would he write such a lame book!

Rating:
Summary: I LOVED this book
Review: Morton has nothing new to add to Diana's story except perhaps to promote himself and his earlier books on the Princess. He also seems to have a personal vendetta against Paul Burrell, Diana's butler, and never wastes an opportunity to make a nasty crack about him. Do not waste any money on this book!