"The Diana Chronicles" by Tina Brown (2007)

[sassie]

Originally Posted by iowabelle

For those in the U.S. 20/20 on ABC is going to do a segment on "new revelations" on Diana tonight. What those are going to be I don't know. I was just reading USA Today and it claimed one of Tina Brown's big revelations is that Diana spent a night with Charles on the royal train prior to the wedding. For all of us, I'm sure it's not big news that that was a rumor (or that it could have been Camilla on the train).

You mean, Diana wasn't really a virgin when she got married? I'm stunned.

[ysbel]

I don't know, Tina Brown totally dumbed down the New Yorker magazine when she took it over. Her reputation in New York has been of pure fluff.

So I don't know how much gravitas a biography written by Tina Brown would be.

From what I've read its not so much an expose but an analysis of the celebrity of Diana and in the realm of celebritydom, Tina certainly knows her stuff.

[sirhon11234]

They're showing a documentary on the Diana Chronicles here in the U.S. on ABC.

[Bosana]

Originally Posted by sirhon11234

They're showing a documentary on the Diana Chronicles here in the U.S. on ABC.

I just watched it this evening. They interviewed Tina Brown along with some other "friends", and revealed nothing new or different from what we have read or know already. As I watched a smiling Tina Brown being interviewed by a rather jolly man...it was almost as if the two had forgotten or disregarded the fact that they were discussing a woman who had died in very tragic circumstances. They were actually have a good time airing bits and pieces of Diana's character and personality. It was rather sad, really. I was wondering just how many millions the book will bring to it's author...and did she really need the money that badly.

[Skydragon]

Camilla never wanted to marry Charles

"The tall, soft-cheeked English rose I first met at the American embassy in 1981, when she was a new bride, had become as phosphorescent as a cartoon," observed Tina Brown. "Striding on three-inch heels across the high-ceilinged grill room of the Four Seasons, she towered like Barbarella.

Camilla never wanted to marry Charles | the Daily Mail

[Skydragon]

I have posted the first 'preview' from the Mail (who have purchased the rights to serialise) in the Royal Library thread.

[Duchess]

"Brown, who in 1985 attacked the Prince of Wales' neglect of his young wife as the reason for their crumbling marriage just four years into their supposedly 'fairy-tale' life, has this time turned the tables on Diana, and portrays her as a "spiteful, manipulative" woman..." makes you wonder who is actually the manipulative one here. wonder what changed her mind????

i'll remain open minded until i read it. i just find it interesting that she appeared to be diana's friend and now she's changed her mind. curious?

[TheTruth]

I'm disapointed by all this. I thought that this 10 years after Diana would be 'celebrated' in a positive way, by showing the good moments. In stead, some people see the occasion to get her down. Not fair for her neither for her sons. IMO releasing a book like that is being totally coward. Why not telling her face to face what the felt about her ?!

[love_cc]

Originally Posted by Duchess

"Brown, who in 1985 attacked the Prince of Wales' neglect of his young wife as the reason for their crumbling marriage just four years into their supposedly 'fairy-tale' life, has this time turned the tables on Diana, and portrays her as a "spiteful, manipulative" woman..." makes you wonder who is actually the manipulative one here. wonder what changed her mind????

i'll remain open minded until i read it. i just find it interesting that she appeared to be diana's friend and now she's changed her mind. curious?

A lot of information has been written on this topic after 1985. Tina Brown has enough information drawn from different books, newspaper and interviews from others. I have not read her book but from what the book review says. I agree with her judgment. We may check her notes if she has any.

[Duchess]

Originally Posted by love_cc

A lot of information has been written on this topic after 1985. Tina Brown has enough information drawn from different books, newspaper and interviews from others. I have not read her book but from what the book review says. I agree with her judgment. We may check her notes if she has any.

not trying to start an argument here, believe me, but are you saying that the basis of the change in her opinion of diana is from reading different books and newspaper and interviews from others as opposed to when she was "friends" with the princess?

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Duchess

not trying to start an argument here, believe me, but are you saying that the basis of the change in her opinion of diana is from reading different books and newspaper and interviews from others as opposed to when she was "friends" with the princess?

Me neither. It is possible that over the years she has read various books and spoken to an assortment of people that has shed a different light onto little things that she thought were 'facts' or was unsure about.

For years it was quoted that Diana threw herself (while heavily pregnant) down a flight of stairs. We now 'know' through various sources that she sort of slipped/slithered down three very shallow, carpeted steps.

Time and other sources can bring clarity as well as fogging!

[TheTruth]

By reading and listening to every gossips which are (for the most of them) total lies, we are somtimes 'forced to believe it. Even very trustful sources can fool you. The best thing is to make a selection of the informations before writting a book full of hypothesis.

[misselle]

I've read hundreds of biographies over the years and can tell you all that there are types of biographies: 1. the fawning type,where the subject can do no wrong 2. the defaming type,where the subject's reputation is torn to shreds 3. the honest type,warts and all treatment,but the subject is portrayed fairly and ends up looking good

Tina Brown has reputation for writing the defaming type of treatment;I've learned over the years not to believe everything I read. Diana wasn't a saint,she wasn't perfect,but she also was not a monster!She had her faults,but she was a likeable human being who had the ability to sit down and talk with any one and make them feel special.Tina Brown's story is going to be a re-hash of many other biographies written by others,but with an un-pleasant slant. I have read the article "The Mouse That Roared" so I know what to expect...a mean-spirited approach to Diana's life.

I am a Diana fan,but I also accept Camilla,now.I wish that things had turned out differently,but Diana is dead,life goes on,and Camilla is part of Charles' life. Both women should be treated fairly.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by TheTruth

By reading and listening to every gossips which are (for the most of them) total lies, we are somtimes 'forced to believe it. Even very trustful sources can fool you. The best thing is to make a selection of the informations before writting a book full of hypothesis.

Nobody can force anyone to believe what is written in a book, you either accept the information or disgard it.

[glassary]

Hi All,

First off this is my first post after many months of lurking and being fully entertained and fascinated by everyones posts.

I'm a third of the way thru "The Diana Chronicles" by Tina Brown and have to honestly say it appears to be a very even handed look at the life of a very complex Diana.
It doesn't sugar coat her failings and at the same time doesn't appear (as yet) to gush and embellish her life.

I've skimmed ahead and it appears to be one of the few Diana books that look at her as a person and not an icon, victim or evil manipulator.
Additionally Tina doesn't appear as yet to blame Diana for her faults.

I believe that 10 years is possibly the perfect time to look back and reflect on Diana's life.
Enough time has passed that the overwhelming adoration has faded to an extent. Likewise the attacks on her life also been levelled against her.

Maybe now we are truly ready to see Diana as she actually was.
Fascinating, complex, troubled and unique.

Oh I did get past the part about her birth and conception. I didn't see any reference to the idea at this part (it may come later in book) to anyone other than Johnnie Spencer being her father.

[TheTruth]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Nobody can force anyone to believe what is written in a book, you either accept the information or disgard it.

Yes, just like documentaries you watch or you don't watch. What I'm trying to say is that many things were written just like "the story of the stairs" and many people believed it (me the first). Like you said some sources can bring clarity but they also can fool you ...

[Elspeth]

Welcome to the world of posting as well as lurking, glassary!

[TheTruth]

Sad when you know that information must stay objective and not subjective lol.

[love_cc]

Depending on how you evaluating the creditability of the sources of information and the creditability of the authors. For most information Tina Brown has mentioned, I have read from other books. Those authors name the sources without hiding anything. Certainly they vertify these events and they put great efforts to persuade the sources to list their names.

Tina Brown is a skillful and sharp journalist. She does not seem to be biased because she does reveal the ways Charles and Camilla maintaining their affairs. It is my opion of course.

[gfg02]

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