Diana, William, and Harry

This book commands a response rather than a review. As a newcomer to the appreciation of the monarchy, I tread lightly as I cannot imagine the experiences recorded in the pages of this book. Some I knew, many I didn't. The reader's companion that stayed with me throughout the nearly 400 pages was the overwhelming sense of the vast difference between perception and reality and how often one is mistaken for the other. And the resulting fallout. I suppose in one sense as with any public role one puts oneself out there for the private sector to judge. But the readiness of people to judge without charity as the first response is difficult to read about page after page. There was much of that in the life of Diana and ultimately in the lives of her sons as we're all aware these days. This is a heartbreaking book to read. That said, I did sense a particular personal appreciation of Diana by Patterson and Mooney. Without that, I don't think I could have finished this book.