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Dianaworld: An Obsession
Over the last forty years, the mythology of Princess Diana has turned the woman who was born Diana Spencer into a symbol for almost anything. From a harbinger of Brexit populism, an all-American consumer capitalist, and the savior of the British aristocracy, to a catalyst for #MeToo, Diana connects with a wider array of people than any member of the royal family ever has. We feel so familiar with Diana that it seems crushingly formal to use anything but her first name.
In Dianaworld, Edward White guides us through this strange precinct of a global cultural obsession. It's a place of mass delusions, outsized fantasies and quixotic dreams; of druids, psychics, Hollywood stars, obsessive stalkers, radical feminists, and Middle Eastern generals. In a signature, innovative "exploded biography," White offers both a portrait of the princess, and group portraits of those who knew her intimately; those who worked with and for her; and the many ordinary people whose connection to Diana reveals her unique and enduring legacy. White draws on a kaleidoscopic array of sources and perspectives never before used in books about Diana or the royal family—from interviews with sex workers and professional lookalikes, to the Mass Observation social research project and the Great Diary Project in Britain, and the peculiar work of outsider artists.
In Dianaworld, Edward White guides us through this strange precinct of a global cultural obsession. It's a place of mass delusions, outsized fantasies and quixotic dreams; of druids, psychics, Hollywood stars, obsessive stalkers, radical feminists, and Middle Eastern generals. In a signature, innovative "exploded biography," White offers both a portrait of the princess, and group portraits of those who knew her intimately; those who worked with and for her; and the many ordinary people whose connection to Diana reveals her unique and enduring legacy. White draws on a kaleidoscopic array of sources and perspectives never before used in books about Diana or the royal family—from interviews with sex workers and professional lookalikes, to the Mass Observation social research project and the Great Diary Project in Britain, and the peculiar work of outsider artists.
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First published May 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
June 1, 2025
The People's Princess...
DIANAWORLD
by Edward White
3 stars. The People's Princess, a title that encapsulated Diana's reputation. Her bodyguard Ken Wharf says he wrote about his memories of Diana because he feared she'd be written out of history.
I'm inclined to agree with him.
Dianaworld, so the author writes, is the story of a cultural obsession. He lays out that his book features views of both her adorers and her adversaries, but to me, it was plain to see that he wrote this book from a standpoint of not being much of a fan himself.
IJS.
He writes that she is seen as a forever wounded child in search of healing. She was unemcumbered by class identity, snobbery, and elitism because she was thoroughly aristocratic. She moved up and down the social ladder as no royal before her.
According to the author, many Americans and others believed that she was really an American stuck inside a foreigner's body, evidenced by her love for McDonalds and its Big Mac burger. Further, he writes that most Brits believed she embodied the Americanization of the UK and its reinvention and escapism.
Viewpoints I've never heard before.
His thoughts regarding her death, he wrote that some psychics believed that on the day of her funeral, a huge wave of emotion rose up from the very heart of the world, moving the planet's magnetic field, and a vast flow of the Earth's force arose due to the world's collective mourning.
Move over Mother Theresa.
Overall, I would summarize this book as a vast waste of time, buffed up with a mighty word count (much like my review).
The author seemed to be trying to make the reader overuse their dictionary by using obscure, little-used words. There were too many political views for my reading tastes, and I found myself skimming way too much.
I personally believe it's time to lay this woman to rest. There is nothing new to be learned here except maybe wild stories and theories that perhaps you haven't heard before.
Again, IJS.
DIANAWORLD
by Edward White
3 stars. The People's Princess, a title that encapsulated Diana's reputation. Her bodyguard Ken Wharf says he wrote about his memories of Diana because he feared she'd be written out of history.
I'm inclined to agree with him.
Dianaworld, so the author writes, is the story of a cultural obsession. He lays out that his book features views of both her adorers and her adversaries, but to me, it was plain to see that he wrote this book from a standpoint of not being much of a fan himself.
IJS.
He writes that she is seen as a forever wounded child in search of healing. She was unemcumbered by class identity, snobbery, and elitism because she was thoroughly aristocratic. She moved up and down the social ladder as no royal before her.
According to the author, many Americans and others believed that she was really an American stuck inside a foreigner's body, evidenced by her love for McDonalds and its Big Mac burger. Further, he writes that most Brits believed she embodied the Americanization of the UK and its reinvention and escapism.
Viewpoints I've never heard before.
His thoughts regarding her death, he wrote that some psychics believed that on the day of her funeral, a huge wave of emotion rose up from the very heart of the world, moving the planet's magnetic field, and a vast flow of the Earth's force arose due to the world's collective mourning.
Move over Mother Theresa.
Overall, I would summarize this book as a vast waste of time, buffed up with a mighty word count (much like my review).
The author seemed to be trying to make the reader overuse their dictionary by using obscure, little-used words. There were too many political views for my reading tastes, and I found myself skimming way too much.
I personally believe it's time to lay this woman to rest. There is nothing new to be learned here except maybe wild stories and theories that perhaps you haven't heard before.
Again, IJS.
May 17, 2025
3.5 Stars
I'm a bit flummoxed about how to describe this book. The way it's structured kind of reminds me of those Craig Brown authored books like 150 Glimpses of the Beatles, Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret and Q: A Voyage Around the Queen. There's a little of this and a little of that- a spectrum of stories about Princess Diana and the impact she had on the world. Something called "The Great Diary Project" kept being mentioned throughout the book where ordinary people donated their diaries. It was launched in 2007 and serves as an archive of what life was like in our own time. From this the author culled random observations from everyday people about Princess Diana- whether it was about her wedding, troubled marriage- and especially their reaction to her death. Some tangents were more interesting than others and could be skimmed if you weren't interested. Some topics explored were the varying political figures Diana lived through such as Prime Ministers Blair and Major, her quest for relevance with a "job" as a kind of ambassador for good will following her divorce, romantic affairs, friends, and spiritual advisors. It was all over the place, and then it suddenly, surprisingly ended at the 45% mark...leading into Acknowledgments, Notes, Bibliography, Credits, and Index. I borrowed this from the library but found I couldn't finish it within the 14-day limit, and actually considered buying it. Luckily I was able to renew the loan, because I would have felt silly spending full price on this one. It was a good, interesting slice of commentary on the impact of Princess Diana, but nothing earth shattering.
I'm a bit flummoxed about how to describe this book. The way it's structured kind of reminds me of those Craig Brown authored books like 150 Glimpses of the Beatles, Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret and Q: A Voyage Around the Queen. There's a little of this and a little of that- a spectrum of stories about Princess Diana and the impact she had on the world. Something called "The Great Diary Project" kept being mentioned throughout the book where ordinary people donated their diaries. It was launched in 2007 and serves as an archive of what life was like in our own time. From this the author culled random observations from everyday people about Princess Diana- whether it was about her wedding, troubled marriage- and especially their reaction to her death. Some tangents were more interesting than others and could be skimmed if you weren't interested. Some topics explored were the varying political figures Diana lived through such as Prime Ministers Blair and Major, her quest for relevance with a "job" as a kind of ambassador for good will following her divorce, romantic affairs, friends, and spiritual advisors. It was all over the place, and then it suddenly, surprisingly ended at the 45% mark...leading into Acknowledgments, Notes, Bibliography, Credits, and Index. I borrowed this from the library but found I couldn't finish it within the 14-day limit, and actually considered buying it. Luckily I was able to renew the loan, because I would have felt silly spending full price on this one. It was a good, interesting slice of commentary on the impact of Princess Diana, but nothing earth shattering.
May 12, 2025
When I was little, I became convinced that my mom looked very much like princess Diana. Later, I realized it’s because she had a Diana style haircut like so many women did in the 90s. It’s only one of the examples of just how deeply this figure was ingrained in popular culture around the world.
‘Dianaworld’ investigates this phenomenon: what popular culture surrounding the obsession with Diana tells us about our own perception of gender, class, national character, race, heterosexual relationship norms, etc. Having read a few biographies and watched a lot of documentaries about Diana’s life, I find this angle to be quite refreshing and something I was hoping will be written one day.
‘Dianaworld’ investigates this phenomenon: what popular culture surrounding the obsession with Diana tells us about our own perception of gender, class, national character, race, heterosexual relationship norms, etc. Having read a few biographies and watched a lot of documentaries about Diana’s life, I find this angle to be quite refreshing and something I was hoping will be written one day.
August 16, 2025
I'm not gonna lie, I fell asleep multiple times tryouts to read this book. no new info, but yes, Diana's looks changed standard norms, and everyone either wanted to be like her or dress like her.
May 12, 2025
Yes yes you must read it 1000 times yes
March 10, 2025
Thank you to Goodreads for gifting me this ARC.
I'm not going to go into great detail about this book. I enjoyed it, but I initially thought it would read more as a biography. Instead, this reads like an academic textbook at times. With that said, due to the format, it took me longer to read than I would have liked, but I enjoyed the material.
I'm not going to go into great detail about this book. I enjoyed it, but I initially thought it would read more as a biography. Instead, this reads like an academic textbook at times. With that said, due to the format, it took me longer to read than I would have liked, but I enjoyed the material.
April 29, 2025
**I received an ARC of this.**
3.5 Stars
This is less of a biography of Diana, and more about how the world perceived her and how she has been remembered. It was an interesting read, especially as someone who knew very little about Diana's life. I wish it had been organized more chronologically, but only because it would have enhanced my own reading of the book.
3.5 Stars
This is less of a biography of Diana, and more about how the world perceived her and how she has been remembered. It was an interesting read, especially as someone who knew very little about Diana's life. I wish it had been organized more chronologically, but only because it would have enhanced my own reading of the book.
June 20, 2025
I can best explain my antipathy to this book with an anecdote told by the writer A.N. Wilson in 1990 about a conversation he had in 1980 with Elizabeth the Queen Mother (the mother of the late Queen Elizabeth II). The QM reported how sometime in the 1940s:
“We had this rather lugubrious man in a suit, and he read a poem. . . . I think it was called ‘The Desert.’ And first the girls got the giggles, and then I did and then even the King.”
What she was remembering was T.S. Eliot's invitation to Windsor Castle, possibly in 1948 when he was awarded the Nobel prize for literature and read from his greatest work 'The Wasteland'. What is interesting is that even thirty+ years after the event for the QM he still remained an unnamed 'lugubrious man in a suit'. The idea that this 'amusing' anecdote about a great poet having to perform for his supper before an unappreciative audience of the rich and the thick might actually reflect badly on her never crossed the QM's self centered mind. It is also interesting that in response to this story the most vociferous complaints came from various Royalists appalled by A.N. Wilson's Lèse-majesté in daring to report the smug ramblings of this ignorant old lady.
Yet in its complete self absorption and disconnect from any reality the QM's statement is as revealing as Marie Antoinette's 'Let them eat cake' (and I do know that it is apocryphal).
My problem with 'Dianaworld' is not that it is bad but that all it does is relate, once again, the Diana myth/story/legend as told by the media. This is a biography of how a life was constructed and told by the press. But at no point does the author stand back and look at any of the media coverage with a fresh eye. I found the media emphasis on her 'Englishness' interesting in revealing an unrecognised strain of xenophobia that only the Brexit vote would make clear.
Also at no point does the author question the suitability of Diana as an object of idolatry. She was a 19 year old who despite an enormously expensive education had no qualifications - she wasn't even allowed to teach preschoolers - all she was allowed to do was clean up their shit. That so many English girls of her class were no different to Diana says something very interesting, and frightening, about the UK in the 1980s. Attempts are made to compare Diana with Jackie Kennedy, but Diana wasn't even the mental equivalent of Jackie's sister Lee.
There are many things to say about Diana and the royal family, it is a subject that needs looking at but this book simply recaps what is already known.
“We had this rather lugubrious man in a suit, and he read a poem. . . . I think it was called ‘The Desert.’ And first the girls got the giggles, and then I did and then even the King.”
What she was remembering was T.S. Eliot's invitation to Windsor Castle, possibly in 1948 when he was awarded the Nobel prize for literature and read from his greatest work 'The Wasteland'. What is interesting is that even thirty+ years after the event for the QM he still remained an unnamed 'lugubrious man in a suit'. The idea that this 'amusing' anecdote about a great poet having to perform for his supper before an unappreciative audience of the rich and the thick might actually reflect badly on her never crossed the QM's self centered mind. It is also interesting that in response to this story the most vociferous complaints came from various Royalists appalled by A.N. Wilson's Lèse-majesté in daring to report the smug ramblings of this ignorant old lady.
Yet in its complete self absorption and disconnect from any reality the QM's statement is as revealing as Marie Antoinette's 'Let them eat cake' (and I do know that it is apocryphal).
My problem with 'Dianaworld' is not that it is bad but that all it does is relate, once again, the Diana myth/story/legend as told by the media. This is a biography of how a life was constructed and told by the press. But at no point does the author stand back and look at any of the media coverage with a fresh eye. I found the media emphasis on her 'Englishness' interesting in revealing an unrecognised strain of xenophobia that only the Brexit vote would make clear.
Also at no point does the author question the suitability of Diana as an object of idolatry. She was a 19 year old who despite an enormously expensive education had no qualifications - she wasn't even allowed to teach preschoolers - all she was allowed to do was clean up their shit. That so many English girls of her class were no different to Diana says something very interesting, and frightening, about the UK in the 1980s. Attempts are made to compare Diana with Jackie Kennedy, but Diana wasn't even the mental equivalent of Jackie's sister Lee.
There are many things to say about Diana and the royal family, it is a subject that needs looking at but this book simply recaps what is already known.
November 13, 2025
If Princess Diana is a niche interest for you, like she is for me, then this is an awesome book to read. A really great piece of cultural history writing which looks at the cultural phenomenon that Diana is and was from a wide range of angles. I found this analysis interesting and thoughtful. Obviously if this isn't a niche interest for you, you might find this a bit tiresome.
October 13, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Dianaworld details the phenomenon behind Princess Diana. She has been idolised by many and seen as an icon as well as one of the most memorable members of the royal family. Dianaworld describes who Diana was and her legacy whilst also discussing the press, the Royals, the British aristocracy, the ethnic minority community and the LGBTQ+ community.
This was really good and I enjoyed reading it. I’m giving this 4.5 stars rounded up to a 5. Personally, I was born after Princess Diana died so I never understood why people loved her so much but after reading this book I do. It’s clear now that people project what they want onto the image/legacy of Diana. I really enjoyed the parts about the press and the political sections. The truth is Diana was part of an aristocracy and we can never know what she would think of certain events/communities. This book makes a great point that Diana was someone who wanted a traditional conservative family. She did many great things but we can never know how she would be perceived in today’s society if she was still alive. This book touched on conspiracy theories (and effectively debunked them) and I really liked how balanced this felt. It wasn’t against Diana/the royals but it also wasn’t for them. This was a great read and I think an important one when you consider the place of the Royal family today. This book also had pictures in it which I liked and had never seen before.
Favourite Quotes:
“Diana's greatest ambition was not to tear down the monarchy but to future-proof it, which in her role as mother to the future king she had the capacity to do. It all goes to demonstrate that Diana is a crossbench emblem, proudly claimed by left and right, progressives and conservatives, who all see in her a reflection of themselves, and a means of accessing the critical issues.”
AND
In truth, most Americans with a fascination for the Crown can submit themselves to it secure in the knowledge that it will never be anything more than fantasy. As Katharine McGee puts it, "Amer-icans hate having to pay for anything, and we don't have to pay a dime for the upkeep of the British royal family, so therefore we can enjoy it completely guilt free."
Dianaworld details the phenomenon behind Princess Diana. She has been idolised by many and seen as an icon as well as one of the most memorable members of the royal family. Dianaworld describes who Diana was and her legacy whilst also discussing the press, the Royals, the British aristocracy, the ethnic minority community and the LGBTQ+ community.
This was really good and I enjoyed reading it. I’m giving this 4.5 stars rounded up to a 5. Personally, I was born after Princess Diana died so I never understood why people loved her so much but after reading this book I do. It’s clear now that people project what they want onto the image/legacy of Diana. I really enjoyed the parts about the press and the political sections. The truth is Diana was part of an aristocracy and we can never know what she would think of certain events/communities. This book makes a great point that Diana was someone who wanted a traditional conservative family. She did many great things but we can never know how she would be perceived in today’s society if she was still alive. This book touched on conspiracy theories (and effectively debunked them) and I really liked how balanced this felt. It wasn’t against Diana/the royals but it also wasn’t for them. This was a great read and I think an important one when you consider the place of the Royal family today. This book also had pictures in it which I liked and had never seen before.
Favourite Quotes:
“Diana's greatest ambition was not to tear down the monarchy but to future-proof it, which in her role as mother to the future king she had the capacity to do. It all goes to demonstrate that Diana is a crossbench emblem, proudly claimed by left and right, progressives and conservatives, who all see in her a reflection of themselves, and a means of accessing the critical issues.”
AND
In truth, most Americans with a fascination for the Crown can submit themselves to it secure in the knowledge that it will never be anything more than fantasy. As Katharine McGee puts it, "Amer-icans hate having to pay for anything, and we don't have to pay a dime for the upkeep of the British royal family, so therefore we can enjoy it completely guilt free."
May 6, 2025
To be honest, the reason I got this book is because I saw an article about it that discussed a particular night that Diana dressed up in drag to go to a famous gay bar—Vauxhall’s—with Freddy Mercury…consider me intrigued. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed Edward White’s take on Princess Di’s lasting cultural impact. The other Diana biographies that I own are true biographies; they look at the events of her life and the effects they had in that time. White, on the other hand, looks further out—this is a complaint that I’ve seen other readers list as a reason for not enjoying the book; however, I felt like it was made very clear in the synopsis that that’s what this book was. I digress…
As someone who was not alive for any part of Diana’s life, I’m always intrigued to learn more about her. I think White’s analysis of her lasting impact even 28 years after her death was a new and unique take that I don’t see a lot of in the biography section.
As someone who was not alive for any part of Diana’s life, I’m always intrigued to learn more about her. I think White’s analysis of her lasting impact even 28 years after her death was a new and unique take that I don’t see a lot of in the biography section.
May 26, 2025
Interesting idea. Tedious execution. Disappointing.
August 17, 2025
We’re getting to a point in time where younger generations now coming into adulthood were born too late to remember Princess Diana. The author of this book was born in 1981, the year Diana married. I was born in 1979 but I remember a good deal of her public life because she became my special interest when I was still a single digit age. But most people younger than me probably won’t have been too aware of her until her death in 1997, if even then. But if you’re tempted to pick this up to learn about her or to get a feel for the press coverage of her while she lived, don’t bother.
In “Dianaworld,” Edward White offers up a buffet of contemporary reporting on her ostensibly to analyze a global obsession. The book feels like it’s trying to come off as unbiased, mentioning articles and quotes that are both sympathetic and unsympathetic to Diana but White’s own editorial additions tend to the ungenerous and speculative, even salacious. White often passes judgment on Diana, taking quotes and situations out of context and out of chronological order. He compares Diana at 19 to Diana at 35 and acts like they contradict one another — because they DO, which is normal as people age and mature. He also bases his takes largely on BS written to sell tabloids and gossipy bios by unscrupulous hatemongers. (Some bios and authors are accurate, some were not; he does not offer a distinction.) The author claims he’s documenting the cultural impact she had but he’s definitely also using it to judge her and sculpt yet another image of her. White notes the fickleness and incongruity of the media that reported on Diana but uses it against her when trying to reconcile her beliefs, behavior, and identity. He is adding to this “Dianaworld” at the same time as he’s allegedly reporting on it.
I appreciated the look into the complex and evolving relationship the British* media (*in particular) had with the royal family, the layers of which is something that is still being exposed and processed even today. I think the book works best when it stays away from passing subtle judgment on Diana’s inconsistencies and flaws (of which there were plenty) but rather sticks with its main focus of presenting and analyzing the world media’s obsession with her. The mythologizing and demonization of Diana in life, and sanctification in death, provides endless opportunities to delve into all manner of telling psychological and cultural phenomena.
I also found it perplexing that the author (as well as other sources he quoted) seems to conflate Americans’ fascination with monarchy with envy. I personally have always found it very interesting but I also think monarchy is an outdated curiosity, an antique cultural relic that is hard for Britain to get rid of, and which continues to create difficulties for its members to find ways to prove their relevance and defend their existence. (It’s an increasingly difficult existence to defend, in my opinion.) They’d be better off returning their stolen jewels, selling off their palaces, and becoming full-time working ambassadors or charity promoters. But hey, what do I know, I’m just an envious American.
In the end, this is essentially just more of the same BS Diana got from tabloids in Britain while she was alive. I feel like White displays disdain not only for Diana but for the “common people” who were able to find something in the princess they could relate to or identify with, holding in higher esteem those who found her ridiculous, which was frankly enraging. I don’t need a book about Diana to be a halo-hanging hagiography but I would appreciate some level of restraint from full-on ridicule based on scumbag Fleet Street tabloid nonsense.
———
Side note: a few things really stuck out to me.
- Speaking on Diana’s desire to be of use to her country in an important way, White says she had to “subsume her ambition into this aristocratic ethos of service. Sometimes it made her sound disingenuous, if not a little bit ridiculous. [Quoting Diana with regard to the cheering crowds on her wedding day:] [it was] “humble making, all these thousands and thousands of people, happy.” As with the Hollywood stars who profess to be humbled by receiving an Oscar, this doesn’t make much sense. In what world could such acclaim and adoration possibly cause a flush of humility?”
This is an incredible and fundamental lack of understanding of who Diana was, and honestly, a lack of understanding of human emotion and psyche. Frankly, it’s stunning to see someone claim this as difficult to comprehend. Speaking of actors winning Oscars, if you’ve ever seen Sally Field’s acceptance speech for her second win, she says “you like me! You really like me!” I think this explains it perfectly. Her surprise betrays an insecurity; getting positive feedback like winning a prestigious award offers validation that she is indeed praiseworthy. And this validation might be surprising to someone who doesn’t fully believe in themselves. So either White is the one being disingenuous here or he lacks the ability to understand the psyche of someone who was raised to have anything less than complete self confidence. Either way, I think he probably shouldn’t be writing books about people until he figures this out.
- “Dianaworld.” “Dianaists.” “Dianaweek.” “Dianamen.” He coins these bizarre terms (and uses them in arguably condescending ways) and repeatedly refers to them as if they are commonly used. I have heard of none of them prior to reading this book.
- Toward the end of the book, White presents a quote from someone likening the public sadness immediately after Diana’s death to the brainwashing Hitler performed on German citizens is absolutely offensive and irresponsible.
In “Dianaworld,” Edward White offers up a buffet of contemporary reporting on her ostensibly to analyze a global obsession. The book feels like it’s trying to come off as unbiased, mentioning articles and quotes that are both sympathetic and unsympathetic to Diana but White’s own editorial additions tend to the ungenerous and speculative, even salacious. White often passes judgment on Diana, taking quotes and situations out of context and out of chronological order. He compares Diana at 19 to Diana at 35 and acts like they contradict one another — because they DO, which is normal as people age and mature. He also bases his takes largely on BS written to sell tabloids and gossipy bios by unscrupulous hatemongers. (Some bios and authors are accurate, some were not; he does not offer a distinction.) The author claims he’s documenting the cultural impact she had but he’s definitely also using it to judge her and sculpt yet another image of her. White notes the fickleness and incongruity of the media that reported on Diana but uses it against her when trying to reconcile her beliefs, behavior, and identity. He is adding to this “Dianaworld” at the same time as he’s allegedly reporting on it.
I appreciated the look into the complex and evolving relationship the British* media (*in particular) had with the royal family, the layers of which is something that is still being exposed and processed even today. I think the book works best when it stays away from passing subtle judgment on Diana’s inconsistencies and flaws (of which there were plenty) but rather sticks with its main focus of presenting and analyzing the world media’s obsession with her. The mythologizing and demonization of Diana in life, and sanctification in death, provides endless opportunities to delve into all manner of telling psychological and cultural phenomena.
I also found it perplexing that the author (as well as other sources he quoted) seems to conflate Americans’ fascination with monarchy with envy. I personally have always found it very interesting but I also think monarchy is an outdated curiosity, an antique cultural relic that is hard for Britain to get rid of, and which continues to create difficulties for its members to find ways to prove their relevance and defend their existence. (It’s an increasingly difficult existence to defend, in my opinion.) They’d be better off returning their stolen jewels, selling off their palaces, and becoming full-time working ambassadors or charity promoters. But hey, what do I know, I’m just an envious American.
In the end, this is essentially just more of the same BS Diana got from tabloids in Britain while she was alive. I feel like White displays disdain not only for Diana but for the “common people” who were able to find something in the princess they could relate to or identify with, holding in higher esteem those who found her ridiculous, which was frankly enraging. I don’t need a book about Diana to be a halo-hanging hagiography but I would appreciate some level of restraint from full-on ridicule based on scumbag Fleet Street tabloid nonsense.
———
Side note: a few things really stuck out to me.
- Speaking on Diana’s desire to be of use to her country in an important way, White says she had to “subsume her ambition into this aristocratic ethos of service. Sometimes it made her sound disingenuous, if not a little bit ridiculous. [Quoting Diana with regard to the cheering crowds on her wedding day:] [it was] “humble making, all these thousands and thousands of people, happy.” As with the Hollywood stars who profess to be humbled by receiving an Oscar, this doesn’t make much sense. In what world could such acclaim and adoration possibly cause a flush of humility?”
This is an incredible and fundamental lack of understanding of who Diana was, and honestly, a lack of understanding of human emotion and psyche. Frankly, it’s stunning to see someone claim this as difficult to comprehend. Speaking of actors winning Oscars, if you’ve ever seen Sally Field’s acceptance speech for her second win, she says “you like me! You really like me!” I think this explains it perfectly. Her surprise betrays an insecurity; getting positive feedback like winning a prestigious award offers validation that she is indeed praiseworthy. And this validation might be surprising to someone who doesn’t fully believe in themselves. So either White is the one being disingenuous here or he lacks the ability to understand the psyche of someone who was raised to have anything less than complete self confidence. Either way, I think he probably shouldn’t be writing books about people until he figures this out.
- “Dianaworld.” “Dianaists.” “Dianaweek.” “Dianamen.” He coins these bizarre terms (and uses them in arguably condescending ways) and repeatedly refers to them as if they are commonly used. I have heard of none of them prior to reading this book.
- Toward the end of the book, White presents a quote from someone likening the public sadness immediately after Diana’s death to the brainwashing Hitler performed on German citizens is absolutely offensive and irresponsible.
October 9, 2025
I loved this book. I loved Princess Diana so much. This is a book I would want to own in hardback form.
May 11, 2025
Funny to see everything associated with Diana treated similar to Elvis. Had no idea the impact Diana had on some folks. This book is for Diana super fans, but I found aspects of it to be informative and intriguing. Rather scholarly in tone, but plenty of bizarre tangents along the way to keep it entertaining. Quite enjoyable altogether in its nostalgic overtones.
April 7, 2025
A book that looks into the global obsession with Princess Diana 👑. From her younger years as a wealthy Spencer, to her romance with Charles, to love affairs, to spiritual advisors, to motherhood, to her glowing role as the people’s princess— all topics are included. There is an inside look from media, tabloids and paparazzi. People loved or loathed her. Some were utterly obsessed. A true fashion icon. She rubbed elbows with celebrities and shook hands with refugees. (I had no idea she danced with John Travolta or was close with George Michael!) #dianaworld #edwardwhite #princessdiana #goodreads #goodreadsgiveaway #jillianhereforthebooks
October 16, 2025
I've been curious for a long time why the English royals and particularly Diana hold such influence. I myself enjoy reading about them, but I don't think I would want my tax dollars supporting their opulent lifestyles. I was hopeful that Edward White might shed light on our fascination in Dianaworld. I didn't feel my questions were fully answered. Until page 267 I was undecided what I thought of Diana. She seems immature and repeatedly makes bad decisions; I was able to cut her some slack due to her growing-up years. In the last paragraph on page 267, White recounts a meeting Diana had with Tony Blair:
In the spring of 1995, she and the buoyant New Labour leadership began a mutual flirtation that continued for the remaining two years of her life. Blair was rapt by her shrewdness and savvy; "if she were ever in politics, even Clinton would have to watch out." Sharing her insights into the art of image making one evening, she baldly urged him to "touch people in pictures"; in the words of Blair's spin doctor, Alastair Campbell, who was also present, photos taken with "down-and-outs" and "children with no hair" were especially effective, Diana felt, in curating a reputation for compassion.
That scene blew me away, and struck me as the work of a master manipulator. Later White discusses how Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, exhibits Diana's belongings in England and throughout the United States to make money. Following the terms of Diana's will, the belongings were transferred to her sons when Harry reached age 30. The exhibitions stopped.
White's book is an interesting look at Diana's life from a new angle. He compares the public infatuation with Diana to that of Marilyn Monroe and Jackie O, commenting on a sort of deep-rooted sadness the three women share. Could it be that underlying sorrow moves the public?
In the spring of 1995, she and the buoyant New Labour leadership began a mutual flirtation that continued for the remaining two years of her life. Blair was rapt by her shrewdness and savvy; "if she were ever in politics, even Clinton would have to watch out." Sharing her insights into the art of image making one evening, she baldly urged him to "touch people in pictures"; in the words of Blair's spin doctor, Alastair Campbell, who was also present, photos taken with "down-and-outs" and "children with no hair" were especially effective, Diana felt, in curating a reputation for compassion.
That scene blew me away, and struck me as the work of a master manipulator. Later White discusses how Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, exhibits Diana's belongings in England and throughout the United States to make money. Following the terms of Diana's will, the belongings were transferred to her sons when Harry reached age 30. The exhibitions stopped.
White's book is an interesting look at Diana's life from a new angle. He compares the public infatuation with Diana to that of Marilyn Monroe and Jackie O, commenting on a sort of deep-rooted sadness the three women share. Could it be that underlying sorrow moves the public?
November 1, 2025
I’ve read A LOT of books about Princess Diana over the years, as well as just consuming anything about her, but this is a first for me in terms of reading something that was NOT 100% pro-Di and “Oh my gosh, she was an angel on earth” colored.
This work takes a look at both how and why Diana had, and still has, a hold on people and really opened my eyes to the ways we are quick to idolize someone and blow things up bigger than they need to be.
This work takes a look at both how and why Diana had, and still has, a hold on people and really opened my eyes to the ways we are quick to idolize someone and blow things up bigger than they need to be.
February 23, 2025
*Thanks to WWNorton and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
Dianaworld is about the phenomena of Diana and the legacy she has left behind in many different spaces. The book reads as an academia book filled with different types of essays about Diana. The many different essays are filled with topics such as Diana's relationship with the press, British politics, the LGBTQ+ community, and immigrants in the UK.
It is a good read if you want to learn more about Diana and what she meant to different groups of people.
Dianaworld is about the phenomena of Diana and the legacy she has left behind in many different spaces. The book reads as an academia book filled with different types of essays about Diana. The many different essays are filled with topics such as Diana's relationship with the press, British politics, the LGBTQ+ community, and immigrants in the UK.
It is a good read if you want to learn more about Diana and what she meant to different groups of people.
February 23, 2025
*very well-written and easy to read
*a stunning alternative to history!
*a must read for all Diana fans
*highly recommend
*a stunning alternative to history!
*a must read for all Diana fans
*highly recommend
June 23, 2025
It was interesting and very thorough, the author really dotted all the i’s and crossed his t’s, but it was a strangely unemotional book on a topic that for many people is emotional. I get it, that he was looking at the phenomena that had so many people had been enthralled by Diana, Princess of Wales, and not writing a biography of the person. The emphasis on Diana showing different faces to different people is valid, but honestly we all do that-how I portray to the general public that I serve in customer service is way different than to a friend or family member. But the other thing that bothered me was I kept feeling as I was reading that he did not really understand or lumped those people into a category of uniformed and/or delusional. And honestly, there are worse people to have been enthralled by-Diana did at least have beliefs and good intentions, unlike the Trumpworld the United States is living in right now. Anyway, it was definitely worth reading.
Read
October 21, 2025I wished I loved this more but it was just hard to read and not super interesting at times. The style of writing was more of a scholastic essay than an entertaining book for the masses which didn’t fit with the topic.
Maybe I already knew enough about her life to not be super enthralled but I thought this topic was right up my alley of interests.
Maybe I already knew enough about her life to not be super enthralled but I thought this topic was right up my alley of interests.
July 20, 2025
This book is about the Diana phenomenon. The first part is great, the middle is padded, and the ending could have been expanded.
May 8, 2025
Diana's global impact on the world from the perspectives of people who knew her.
3.5/5
from the pages of the library | Pillowfort | Bookbub | LibraryThing | The Story Graph | livejournal | Litsy | Booksprouts
3.5/5
from the pages of the library | Pillowfort | Bookbub | LibraryThing | The Story Graph | livejournal | Litsy | Booksprouts
August 16, 2025
This review first appeared on my Substack newsletter, Omnivorous.
If, like me, you grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, you’ll recall that it was impossible to escape from Princess Diana in those years. The tabloids were filled with her image and with details of her various marital and romantic entanglements and woes, and her death sent shockwaves around the world. To this day she continues to exert a remarkably strong hold on the popular imagination, as the final several seasons of The Crown demonstrate. One could be forgiven for thinking that the show was always meant to be about her, given how much attention she receives and how central she is to the story.
As it turns out, The Crown is but one example of the phenomenon of Diana worship, which emerged during her life and has only become more potent and enduring after her untimely death in 1997.. In Dianaworld: An Obsession, author Edward White takes a deep dive into the fascinating, and sometimes unsettling, world of those who have made the late Princess Diana the center of their world. As he memorably and aptly argues, few royal figures–except for perhaps Queen Elizabeth II herself–have managed to exert such a powerful hold on the public imagination.
The book is less a traditional biography and more a cultural study of the icon that Diana became from the moment that she entered the public eye. Some of this was due to the tabloid culture of the UK and their fascination with the Royal Family and all of its various foibles. At the same time, it was because Diana herself was such a master at publicity. This isn’t to say that she was a total cynic, though she was quite adept at presenting to the world whatever part of herself she thought the public needed to see.
Indeed, the thing about Diana, White argues, is that she was something of a tabula rasa, a blank slate onto which her adoring public could project itself. There are, of course, some peeks behind the curtain throughout the book, as White draws on the many, many books written by those who were intimate with the Princess of Wales, before, during, and after her time as the wife of Prince Charles. Even those who were most intimate with her, however, tended to view her through the lens of what she meant to them, rather than seeing her as an individual person with her own identity and subjectivity.
Dianaworld makes for a quick and fascinating read. White takes us to some very strange corners of both the internet and print worlds. It’s no exaggeration to say that everyone who had a platform in the 1980s and 1990s had something to say about every aspect of Diana: what she wore, what she ate, what she said, and what she did. There were those who were on her side and those who hated her and what she represented. There were republicans that strangely enough found her appealing, and there were Tories who loathed her for the damage she did to Prince Charles’ reputation. Even Tony Blair got in on the act, and he apparently saw her as something akin to a kindred spirit.
There are, of course, those who continue to believe that Diana was killed by some sort of nefarious cabal (this theory has been espoused by some very high-profile people, including Dodi Fayed’s father). There are also those who have amassed a significant amount of Diana memorabilia, and those who followed her around while she was alive. There are even those who continue to insist that she be given the memorialization that they feel she deserves (though, as White points out, the two statues that have been produced have been…of questionable quality, when they were completed at all).
Though White does sometimes seem a bit bemused by the phenomena that he’s writing about, I don’t think he ever goes so far as to view Diana fans with outright condescension or contempt. Indeed, some parts of the book are strikingly poignant and resonant, particularly those dealing with the queer community and its deep connection to Diana. In part, White argues, this connection sprang from her willingness to hold the hands of AIDS patients without gloves. While she might not have been the first public figure to do so, there’s no question that Diana’s decision to do so helped to shift the conversation about HIV and AIDS, and it solidified her place as a saint for gay men.
Yet her connection to queer folks also sprang out of her own status–whether perceived or real–as an outsider, as someone who had never really been accepted by the establishment. It certainly helped that, throughout her life, Diana was also more than a little androgynous, her appearance always straddling the line between male and female. She was also not above going out on the town in men’s clothing. It’s thus no wonder that many queer men continue to idolize and to remember her fondly, even if she wasn’t what one might call a queer activist.
Perhaps no event brings out the contradictions of the Diana icon quite like her death and funeral. It was, White asserts, something akin to a collective experience of grief and emotion, one that brought out some latent emotion in the British people that had lain dormant since the 19th century, buried beneath the relatively recent phenomenon of the “stiff upper lip.” Even those who were bemused or disgusted or opposed to such outpourings of grief sometimes found themselves connecting to this whole mass experience, something that has never quite been replicated, even upon Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
In the end, though, White reminds us that, for all of Diana’s ubiquity in the world of popular culture, there still remains something more than a little enigmatic about her. He closes the book with an anecdote of a group of tourists at Althorp who, when all is said and done, find themselves a bit frustrated that there’s so little of Diana in her ancestral home. That is precisely what makes her so compelling and enticing and enthralling and enchanting. Like another royal who entered into the realm of the iconic, she makes hungry where most she seeks to satisfy. Dianaworld brilliantly shows us why this is the case, even if, like its subject, it leaves us wanting more.
If, like me, you grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, you’ll recall that it was impossible to escape from Princess Diana in those years. The tabloids were filled with her image and with details of her various marital and romantic entanglements and woes, and her death sent shockwaves around the world. To this day she continues to exert a remarkably strong hold on the popular imagination, as the final several seasons of The Crown demonstrate. One could be forgiven for thinking that the show was always meant to be about her, given how much attention she receives and how central she is to the story.
As it turns out, The Crown is but one example of the phenomenon of Diana worship, which emerged during her life and has only become more potent and enduring after her untimely death in 1997.. In Dianaworld: An Obsession, author Edward White takes a deep dive into the fascinating, and sometimes unsettling, world of those who have made the late Princess Diana the center of their world. As he memorably and aptly argues, few royal figures–except for perhaps Queen Elizabeth II herself–have managed to exert such a powerful hold on the public imagination.
The book is less a traditional biography and more a cultural study of the icon that Diana became from the moment that she entered the public eye. Some of this was due to the tabloid culture of the UK and their fascination with the Royal Family and all of its various foibles. At the same time, it was because Diana herself was such a master at publicity. This isn’t to say that she was a total cynic, though she was quite adept at presenting to the world whatever part of herself she thought the public needed to see.
Indeed, the thing about Diana, White argues, is that she was something of a tabula rasa, a blank slate onto which her adoring public could project itself. There are, of course, some peeks behind the curtain throughout the book, as White draws on the many, many books written by those who were intimate with the Princess of Wales, before, during, and after her time as the wife of Prince Charles. Even those who were most intimate with her, however, tended to view her through the lens of what she meant to them, rather than seeing her as an individual person with her own identity and subjectivity.
Dianaworld makes for a quick and fascinating read. White takes us to some very strange corners of both the internet and print worlds. It’s no exaggeration to say that everyone who had a platform in the 1980s and 1990s had something to say about every aspect of Diana: what she wore, what she ate, what she said, and what she did. There were those who were on her side and those who hated her and what she represented. There were republicans that strangely enough found her appealing, and there were Tories who loathed her for the damage she did to Prince Charles’ reputation. Even Tony Blair got in on the act, and he apparently saw her as something akin to a kindred spirit.
There are, of course, those who continue to believe that Diana was killed by some sort of nefarious cabal (this theory has been espoused by some very high-profile people, including Dodi Fayed’s father). There are also those who have amassed a significant amount of Diana memorabilia, and those who followed her around while she was alive. There are even those who continue to insist that she be given the memorialization that they feel she deserves (though, as White points out, the two statues that have been produced have been…of questionable quality, when they were completed at all).
Though White does sometimes seem a bit bemused by the phenomena that he’s writing about, I don’t think he ever goes so far as to view Diana fans with outright condescension or contempt. Indeed, some parts of the book are strikingly poignant and resonant, particularly those dealing with the queer community and its deep connection to Diana. In part, White argues, this connection sprang from her willingness to hold the hands of AIDS patients without gloves. While she might not have been the first public figure to do so, there’s no question that Diana’s decision to do so helped to shift the conversation about HIV and AIDS, and it solidified her place as a saint for gay men.
Yet her connection to queer folks also sprang out of her own status–whether perceived or real–as an outsider, as someone who had never really been accepted by the establishment. It certainly helped that, throughout her life, Diana was also more than a little androgynous, her appearance always straddling the line between male and female. She was also not above going out on the town in men’s clothing. It’s thus no wonder that many queer men continue to idolize and to remember her fondly, even if she wasn’t what one might call a queer activist.
Perhaps no event brings out the contradictions of the Diana icon quite like her death and funeral. It was, White asserts, something akin to a collective experience of grief and emotion, one that brought out some latent emotion in the British people that had lain dormant since the 19th century, buried beneath the relatively recent phenomenon of the “stiff upper lip.” Even those who were bemused or disgusted or opposed to such outpourings of grief sometimes found themselves connecting to this whole mass experience, something that has never quite been replicated, even upon Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
In the end, though, White reminds us that, for all of Diana’s ubiquity in the world of popular culture, there still remains something more than a little enigmatic about her. He closes the book with an anecdote of a group of tourists at Althorp who, when all is said and done, find themselves a bit frustrated that there’s so little of Diana in her ancestral home. That is precisely what makes her so compelling and enticing and enthralling and enchanting. Like another royal who entered into the realm of the iconic, she makes hungry where most she seeks to satisfy. Dianaworld brilliantly shows us why this is the case, even if, like its subject, it leaves us wanting more.
October 4, 2025
I’m not sure why I picked this up. It didn't prove to be very interesting.
June 24, 2025
Being a bit (okay a lot) of a royalist, I was intrigued to sit down and read an account focused on Diana, Princess of Wales. Also, when I saw the cover in a B&N news blast before it came on sale, I was like "WOW, now THAT is a cover!" Great way to lure anyone in, really. I also recently went on a trip to London, so thought I might as well read it now as I lurked around like a Sloane Ranger. Well, this book did leave quite a bit to be desired. That and the formatting I think was not what I was anticipating.
Its interesting how the author handles adding in their opinion amongst all the other accounts waded in in the past about this iconic figure from history. I can't really pinpoint where he stands. Definitely a Diana admirer I would figure, but in one moment it is adoration and the next it is borderline denigration. I suppose that makes for great journalism. It did make things feel a bit even-steven while reading. Nonetheless, White includes many other opinions from the past which offer enough flavor and variety to allow the reader to form an opinion through the varied and vivid chapters.
Another reviewer said this already, but I too was anticipating a bit of a biography style to this. Sure, you get that with the Spencer parts, which are fascinating. Although, I think there was a lot left out in those sections. Things we've heard online or read in other books about the Spencer family and its history. A good number of the chapters focus on the almost fantastical element of Diana, and not her seen as a goddess here on earth, but actually her interactions with those who dwelt with other forces and power of nature. Its certainly interesting to read about, but got more airtime than I would have liked. I'm sure there was so much else that could have been highlighted instead.
I don't regret reading the book, because I still learned a lot. But like most nonfiction titles I find these days, there are parts that you really power through, and others that are so lagging its no wonder it took so long to read the whole book.
Its interesting how the author handles adding in their opinion amongst all the other accounts waded in in the past about this iconic figure from history. I can't really pinpoint where he stands. Definitely a Diana admirer I would figure, but in one moment it is adoration and the next it is borderline denigration. I suppose that makes for great journalism. It did make things feel a bit even-steven while reading. Nonetheless, White includes many other opinions from the past which offer enough flavor and variety to allow the reader to form an opinion through the varied and vivid chapters.
Another reviewer said this already, but I too was anticipating a bit of a biography style to this. Sure, you get that with the Spencer parts, which are fascinating. Although, I think there was a lot left out in those sections. Things we've heard online or read in other books about the Spencer family and its history. A good number of the chapters focus on the almost fantastical element of Diana, and not her seen as a goddess here on earth, but actually her interactions with those who dwelt with other forces and power of nature. Its certainly interesting to read about, but got more airtime than I would have liked. I'm sure there was so much else that could have been highlighted instead.
I don't regret reading the book, because I still learned a lot. But like most nonfiction titles I find these days, there are parts that you really power through, and others that are so lagging its no wonder it took so long to read the whole book.
July 15, 2025
The author examines various aspects of Princess Diana's impact on culture, the myths that grew around her during her life and after her death, and the many ways that people identify with her -- even if their reasons for doing so aren't based in reality but on the aforementioned myths. Naturally, the British press and media in general loom large in this book, as sources of the mythology, as foils for a public figure who understood very well how to manipulate them, and as and as the pivot point for an unanswerable question: Did the media cover Diana because of people's fascination/obsession with her, or were people fascinated/obsessed with her because of the exhaustive coverage Diana received?
I can't say I remember a lot about Diana's life between her wedding and her death, except for the big stuff like her divorce and the phone-hacking affair, or whatever that was (see, I told you I don't remember a lot). But she was constantly in the background of the news, and of people's everyday lives, showing up on magazine covers at the airport, in newspaper articles about state visits to other countries, and on TV in her role as mum to her two boys. I wasn't one of those people who populate the titular Diana world, but I was never unaware of her from the time she first emerged onto the stage. And like people a generation before me recall where and how they found out about JFK's assassination, I remember where I was and who I was with when I heard about Diana's accident and death. I think I mostly enjoyed reading this because first, it's a kind of compendium of many facets of Diana's public and private life, and because it does give insight into how those Dianaworld denizens were affected by her presence in their lives. Plus, yeah, it's nostalgia -- pre-internet, we were divided but by totally different factors than today.
I can't say I remember a lot about Diana's life between her wedding and her death, except for the big stuff like her divorce and the phone-hacking affair, or whatever that was (see, I told you I don't remember a lot). But she was constantly in the background of the news, and of people's everyday lives, showing up on magazine covers at the airport, in newspaper articles about state visits to other countries, and on TV in her role as mum to her two boys. I wasn't one of those people who populate the titular Diana world, but I was never unaware of her from the time she first emerged onto the stage. And like people a generation before me recall where and how they found out about JFK's assassination, I remember where I was and who I was with when I heard about Diana's accident and death. I think I mostly enjoyed reading this because first, it's a kind of compendium of many facets of Diana's public and private life, and because it does give insight into how those Dianaworld denizens were affected by her presence in their lives. Plus, yeah, it's nostalgia -- pre-internet, we were divided but by totally different factors than today.
Read
August 9, 2025With 87 pages of notes and an index, this book is an extremely well-researched and detailed exploration of the mythology of Princess Diana. Sometimes the researched details seemed obscure, such as descriptions of art and writing about Diana that exploited her popularity and presence in popular culture. Being a visual learner, I found myself wanting to research every mention of these references on the Internet. I also needed to read this book with a dictionary beside me since there were words that were new to me. I appreciated references to Diana's brother's memoir called "A Very Private School", which described his horrible experiences at boarding school rife with abuse, and the "psychological trauma of the 'privileged' child" who is packed off to be educated at an elite boarding school at a young age.
There were some moments of revelation to me while reading this book, such as the description of her wedding dress designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, having to continuously take in her dress due to her rapid weight loss due to bulimia due to circumstantial pressures and the gradual realization that Charles was still in love with his old girlfriend, Camilla Parker Bowles. Other analyzes of her clothing theorize that Diana made an effort to speak to her public through her clothes, whether her "gym looks" or her "glamour looks"; her "lesbian looks" or her "fairytale looks"; or ultimately her "revenge looks".
There were some moments of revelation to me while reading this book, such as the description of her wedding dress designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, having to continuously take in her dress due to her rapid weight loss due to bulimia due to circumstantial pressures and the gradual realization that Charles was still in love with his old girlfriend, Camilla Parker Bowles. Other analyzes of her clothing theorize that Diana made an effort to speak to her public through her clothes, whether her "gym looks" or her "glamour looks"; her "lesbian looks" or her "fairytale looks"; or ultimately her "revenge looks".
May 5, 2025
I was sixteen years old the year Charles and Diana got married. It was the perfect age to be captivated by her story. I scoured magazines for stories about her and pored over the pictures. By the time she died I was a young mother, but can still see myself in our living room when the news came about the tragic accident.
This book was not what I expected. It was like hopping a ride on a drone hovering over all the Diana data from her ancestry to the reactions to her death. Along the way subjects like her childhood, the famous engagement, that wedding, her fashion sense, her attraction to the woo-woo, her love life, and more are covered in great detail. As my Algebra teacher used to say, "It's everything from soup to nuts."
My mother would say that Edward White threw everything in there except the kitchen sink. This is a dense, deep dive into all things Diana. If you are a fan, you are sure to find something in there that interests you. There will also be a good number of sections you might skim. I am awarding four stars for the research, organization, and presentation representing sources that take up 20% of the page count.
Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was not what I expected. It was like hopping a ride on a drone hovering over all the Diana data from her ancestry to the reactions to her death. Along the way subjects like her childhood, the famous engagement, that wedding, her fashion sense, her attraction to the woo-woo, her love life, and more are covered in great detail. As my Algebra teacher used to say, "It's everything from soup to nuts."
My mother would say that Edward White threw everything in there except the kitchen sink. This is a dense, deep dive into all things Diana. If you are a fan, you are sure to find something in there that interests you. There will also be a good number of sections you might skim. I am awarding four stars for the research, organization, and presentation representing sources that take up 20% of the page count.
Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
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