Synopses & Reviews
That the beautiful, complicated Princess of Wales -- arguably the most celebrated woman of the twentieth century -- died so violently and so young was tragic. That she was a single mother leaving behind two emotionally vulnerable sons made Diana's death at thirty-six all the more heartbreaking.
Four years after Diana's death, Prince William and his brother Prince Harry -- "the heir and the spare," as Fleet Street dubbed them -- are the planet's two most -- photographed, written-about, and speculated-about young men. People everywhere feel an intense affection for Wills and Harry, and wonder if, without their mother to guide them, they are withering or flourishing in the House of Windsor.
In this much-anticipated sequel to his New York Times #1 bestseller The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen draws on important sources -- many of whom have agreed to speak here for the first time -- to paint this sympathetic yet often startling portrait of William and Harry, and reveal how their mother remains a constant presence in their lives. Among the revelations:
- New details about the hours and days after they lost their mother, how they coped in the wake of the tragedy, and who William blames for the crash that killed Diana.
- How the young princes were caught in the crossfire of their parents' tempestuous, often brutal marriage, and what impact that continues to have on them as young men.
- The behind-the-scenes maneuvering by the Queen to mold her grandsons in the Windsor image, and to what extent she has succeeded or failed.
- Camilla's growing role in the boys' lives, her secret pledge to Charles's sons, and whether they would accept her as their stepmother.
- The disturbing influence of William's friends -- including rebellious, drug-abusing aristocrats -- and the Palace's fight to keep them from leading the future king astray.
- The undisclosed threats on the princes' lives and the recurring nightmare that still haunts William.
- Harry's story -- his hopes, dreams, and fears as he struggles with life in the shadow of his brother.
- The women in William's life and what he has confided he wants in a future queen.
Diana's Boys is more than the first comprehensive biography of the world's two most celebrated royals. Just as Andersen's bestsellers Jack and Jackie, Jackie After Jack, and The Day John Died allowed us to once again experience Camelot, readers will relive the tender relationship between Diana and her spirited offspring. This is the story of a mother who died too young and the children who are her living legacy.
Synopsis
Christopher Andersen has the magic touch when it comes to delivering engrossing true-life stories of the world s most glamorous and interesting personalities. This critically acclaimed author s most recent books, The Day John Died and The Day Diana Died, were both sensational New York Times bestsellers hitting #1 as were Bill & Hillary: The Marriage and his books on Jack and Jackie Kennedy. As one of the creative forces behind People magazine, Andersen has interviewed subjects from s business legends to presidents, business leaders to Nobel Prize winning scientists. With an unerring understanding of the cultural zeitgeist, a gift for engaging prose, and a talent for obtaining information from unattainable sources, Andersen takes popular biography to a new level. This summer, he returns with the in-depth story that promises to be his biggest bestseller yet. *Due to the book s highly confidential nature, William Morrow will reveal the subject closer to publication date
About the Author
Christopher Andersen is the critically acclaimed author of twenty-three books that have been translated into more than twenty languages worldwide. A former contributing editor of Time and senior editor of People, Andersen has also written hundreds of articles for a wide range of publications, including Life and the New York Times.