Ever After: Diana and the Life She Led

This is a far more balanced approach to Princess Diana's life than Bedell's 's Diana: In Search of Herself. The facts about the role of Mrs. Parker Bowles and Prince Charles are far more accurate--the deep attachment between the two is made evident both before and after the Prince Charles-Lady Diana engagement and wedding. Apparently, Prince Charles and Mrs. Parker Bowles could not totally separate from one another since they met in the early 1970s and remain a couple to this day. There is no stating in this book that Princess Diana's jealousy drove Prince Charles back to Camilla. Also covered (but not in Bedell's book) is the massive outpouring of grief after Princess Diana's death. This emphasizes that Princess Diana was an admired woman but also had the problems with which people could identify (e.g. being in a loveless marriage and having an eating disorder).

I was an admirer of the late Princess but, unlike many other people I know, in no way could I be considered a "Di-junkie." I make this distinction only to show that I am not indiscriminate in my fascination with the poor woman. As a result, I have not read most of the slightly hysterical Di biographies, and I have been offended by the few that I did read. Still, I do have a certain curiosity about what really went on behind the poised and gracious facade of the public Diana. Here, Anne Edwards has written the definitive work, scholarly to be sure, addressing the Princess of Wales as an author would any other historical figure. According to her own notes, Ms. Edwards began this project before the Princess' sudden death. The book is detailed and filled a multitude of exactly the kind of facts that are valuable to anyone with a background in historic research. There is a thorough explanation of who the very sweet and young noblewoman was in terms of her own family's prestigious history and expectations. The clear conclusion is that this innocent girl was used, callously and deliberately, to satisfy both the breeding needs and the media relations requirements of the Royal family. Yet at no time does Ms. Edwards appear partisan toward Diana, nor does she engage in imaginative psychobabble to attempt to understand what made the much-loved (by everyone except her ex-husband and his family!) Diana tick. The result is a book which is the Diana resource that historians will rely on in centuries to come. I look forward to reading other works by Ms. Edwards.

This book was a good read. No trashy suposition by authors who never met her, or have no psychology degree stating she had a personality disorder. This book has more substance and less book selling gossip than other recent books.

It was so refreshing to finally read a book that didn't bash Diana, but told it like it really was. It showed how she really felt about all that was going on in her life, and how she tried to handle it the best way she knew how. The author showed a love for Diana that I have not seen in any other book, but at the same time she didn't play favorites. She showed kindness to Charles as well. I am so very glad that Anne Edwards has written this book. It shows there are people out there who love the Princess and admire all the good that she has done.

This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it. Just wanted to let other Diana readers/book collectors know that this book was published last year in England under the title, Diana and the Rise of the Spencers. I did not know that and now have two copies.