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Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier
From master storyteller J. Randy Taraborrelli comes the powerful and moving story of one of royalty's most secretive families. Grace Kelly was swept away when the handsome Prince Rainier, a man she barely knew, asked for her hand in marriage. After a series of relationships with married co-stars, she was exhausted by the show-business lifestyle. If she married Rainier, she would be more than just a movie star, she would be Her Serene Royal Highness Princess Grace. Once in the palace, however, Grace found herself trapped in a fairy tale of her own making. Forced to make sacrifices that cut deeply into the core of who she was as a woman, she would then surrender her desires and ambitions for her spouse and her children. Grace and Rainier may have been royalty, but they were also husband and wife, and parents--and, as such, just as vulnerable to the conflicts that can contaminate any household. Drawing upon hundreds of exclusive interviews with family and friends, ONCE UPON A TIME portrays its subjects with passion and sympathy, revealing Grace, Rainier, Caroline, Albert, and Stephanie in ways both startling and compelling.
512 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2003
391 people are currently reading
1502 people want to read
About the author
J. Randy Taraborrelli
45 books484 followersJ. Randy Taraborrelli is an author known for biographies of contemporary entertainers and political figures. He is a featured writer in several entertainment magazines in Canada, England, and Australia. He also appears on television as an entertainment news reporter on shows such as Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America, Today and CBS This Morning. Taraborrelli resides in Los Angeles, California.
Taraborrelli, who has written eighteen books (including updated and expanded editions), has had fourteen of them appear on the New York Times best seller list, the most recent of which was 2014's The Hiltons - The True Story of an American Dynasty. His first best seller was Call Her Miss Ross in 1989. His 2009 biography of Marilyn Monroe - The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe - made a re-appearance on the e-books best-seller list at number two in the summer of 2012.
In November of 2012, it was announced that Reelz cable channel had optioned Taraborrelli's New York Times best-selling book, After Camelot, as a miniseries. It will be his second television miniseries, the first airing on NBC in 2000 and based on his book, Jackie, Ethel, Joan.
Through his newly formed J. Randy Taraborrelli Productions, Taraborrelli is currently developing and producing a number of television projects.
Taraborrelli, who has written eighteen books (including updated and expanded editions), has had fourteen of them appear on the New York Times best seller list, the most recent of which was 2014's The Hiltons - The True Story of an American Dynasty. His first best seller was Call Her Miss Ross in 1989. His 2009 biography of Marilyn Monroe - The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe - made a re-appearance on the e-books best-seller list at number two in the summer of 2012.
In November of 2012, it was announced that Reelz cable channel had optioned Taraborrelli's New York Times best-selling book, After Camelot, as a miniseries. It will be his second television miniseries, the first airing on NBC in 2000 and based on his book, Jackie, Ethel, Joan.
Through his newly formed J. Randy Taraborrelli Productions, Taraborrelli is currently developing and producing a number of television projects.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
February 27, 2023
The eyes of the world were on the "fairy tale" marriage of one of the most popular (and beautiful) actresses in the world to the world's most eligible royal bachelor......Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier Grimaldi III of Monaco. She would crown her career literally by marrying a Prince and he would find a beautiful wife to bear him children to continue his dynasty. They barely knew each other which didn't bode well for a dream come true.
The author dedicates several chapters to their early lives which gives the reader an idea of what shaped their personalities and expectations that, as one would expect, were very different. But the majority of the book is a behind the scenes picture of a marriage that was secretive to the public. Based on interviews/letters with close personal friends of the couple, the less than picture perfect union is presented without bias. Their public personas hid certain harsh realities; imperfect marriage, imperfect family relationships; and, eventually, imperfect children.
The book concentrate more on Grace than Rainer, since she felt trapped but could not walk away. But, with Rainier's help she learned to make tough choices and that she had a commitment and an obligation to make the best of it. They were married for 26 years until her tragic death which almost crushed her husband's soul.
There is so much in this book that cannot be included in a short review. It is fascinating, well written, and factual. (It is dated somewhat as the Prince was still living when it was written.) I would recommend it.
The author dedicates several chapters to their early lives which gives the reader an idea of what shaped their personalities and expectations that, as one would expect, were very different. But the majority of the book is a behind the scenes picture of a marriage that was secretive to the public. Based on interviews/letters with close personal friends of the couple, the less than picture perfect union is presented without bias. Their public personas hid certain harsh realities; imperfect marriage, imperfect family relationships; and, eventually, imperfect children.
The book concentrate more on Grace than Rainer, since she felt trapped but could not walk away. But, with Rainier's help she learned to make tough choices and that she had a commitment and an obligation to make the best of it. They were married for 26 years until her tragic death which almost crushed her husband's soul.
There is so much in this book that cannot be included in a short review. It is fascinating, well written, and factual. (It is dated somewhat as the Prince was still living when it was written.) I would recommend it.
December 11, 2020
"In 1947, at the age of eighteen, Grace Kelly left Philadelphia for New York to attend the American Academt of dramatic arts."
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier
by J. Randy Taraborrelli
I had been wanting to read about Grace for so long. I had no idea where to start.
This was probably not the right pic for me but not because the book isn't good. In fact it is very informative. The writing is excellent and everything flows.
There are also so many beautiful pictures to thumb through! I did find that highly enjoyable.
But ultimately what I was looking for was Historical Fiction. For example I read many books on Cleopatra and other rulers of Egypt. This book was more of a Non Fiction informative type of book. It was interesting but not really what I'd been looking for.
The telling instead of showing style was not for me is the best way I suppose to sum it up.
Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres and the book "I Cleopatra" one of y all time favorite books so I really wanted a story. But I did indeed learning about her. And there was much to learn! Ultimately I think most people will enjoy this book.,
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier
by J. Randy Taraborrelli
I had been wanting to read about Grace for so long. I had no idea where to start.
This was probably not the right pic for me but not because the book isn't good. In fact it is very informative. The writing is excellent and everything flows.
There are also so many beautiful pictures to thumb through! I did find that highly enjoyable.
But ultimately what I was looking for was Historical Fiction. For example I read many books on Cleopatra and other rulers of Egypt. This book was more of a Non Fiction informative type of book. It was interesting but not really what I'd been looking for.
The telling instead of showing style was not for me is the best way I suppose to sum it up.
Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres and the book "I Cleopatra" one of y all time favorite books so I really wanted a story. But I did indeed learning about her. And there was much to learn! Ultimately I think most people will enjoy this book.,
August 28, 2015
The "happily ever after" marriage of Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier III of Monaco is explored and demythologized in this fascinating, compelling and well-researched royal biography.
After failed romances with married co-stars (Ray Milland and William Holden) and turning down a marriage proposal from Oleg Cassini, Kelly met Rainier, the prince of a popular Mediterranean resort town who was searching for a princess he hoped would become "the manifestation of all that we hope for and dream about in Monaco." Nine months after what was called "the wedding of the century" (watched by 30 million TV viewers) in 1956, Grace gave birth to the first of their three children. Never planning to stop making films, she bowed to her husband's wishes and soon her loneliness and boredom were replaced by severe depression. The prince encouraged her to accept Alfred Hitchcock's offer of the lead in "Marnie." But the subjects of Monaco objected and forced her to withdraw.
Before her tragic car accident death in 1982, Grace found contentment in the life she chose. As he demonstrated in his 2002 bestseller, "Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot," Taraborrelli is adept at illuminating political intrigue and complex family dynamics. He smoothly weaves together hundreds of exclusive interviews (in fast-paced, short chapters) to create vivid, full-blooded portraits. This is the definitive book on a marriage that started as an arrangement but ended as a love story.
I interviewed J. Randy Taraborrelli for PUBLISHERS WEEKLY in 2003 when this book came out.
PW: What was the most surprising thing you learned while writing Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier?
J. Randy Taraborrelli: I was most surprised by how tormented Grace Kelly's life was, both before and after she married Prince Rainier. Though many people saw her as a glamorous celebrity who got anything she wanted, she actually struggled through most of her life. When you look at what she had achieved up until the time she met the prince, it's difficult to imagine that she decided to marry him. She was an Academy Award—winning actress at the height of her career who gave it all up for a man she thought she loved. It was a tremendous sacrifice and one that, at different times along the way, she deeply regretted.
PW: What's the most common misperception about Princess Grace?
JRT: That the real Grace was similar to her on-screen persona: cold, distant and formal. In truth, Grace was a woman who saw the power that her beauty and sex appeal had on others—and she used it to her advantage. She had always craved approval from her father, and that led her, I believe, to try to find validation from many men along the way. Once in Hollywood, she discovered just how influential her sexuality could be. At a time when women were far less liberal-minded with their sexuality, Grace really was unapologetic about her ability to make men swoon.
PW: Didn't the results of her whirlwind marriage surprise her?
JRT: She had visited Monaco only once before moving there, and that was for, perhaps, 30 minutes when she first met Rainier! She had been an independent woman used to making her own choices about life. Once in Monaco, not only did she have a husband who was opinionated and rigid, she also had her subjects, the people of Monaco, who, ironically, ruled her in many ways. It was a principality that expected much of their princess, and Grace felt that pressure.
PW: How did Grace evolve into Princess Grace?
JRT: At first, she resisted embracing her new life as a royal. She had worked so hard to create the Hollywood image with which America had fallen in love, she was hesitant to dispose of it. When she finally accepted that her career as a movie star was over, she began the second stage of her reign—then with more commitment to her responsibilities as princess, and with much more peace.
PW: There are differing theories on how she died. Which do you believe?
JRT: I spent a great deal of time researching the car accident and I now understand why so many people still believe Princess Stephanie was driving the car. I outlined the chain of events that occurred that weekend, the arguments Grace and Rainier had with Stephanie over her wanting to drop out of college and become a race car driver. I think you have to read the book to really form an opinion. I was surprised to learn that the palace orchestrated a cover-up of certain details that would most certainly have cleared Stephanie in the court of public opinion, had everyone just been more honest.
PW: At the time of her death, was Grace happy?
JRT: She had always been a woman used to making her own choices, and when she finally began to accept the life she had chosen for herself, that's when she found peace in it. I think it's a universal story, especially during these difficult times when people are really examining their lives. We all have certain regrets. We all find ourselves in imperfect circumstances. As I wrote in the book, sometimes, the real challenge of living has to do with making a life that seems to no longer work... work. The secret is to not succumb to our regrets, but to rise above them, and then get on with things. Which is exactly what Princess Grace eventually did with her own life.
After failed romances with married co-stars (Ray Milland and William Holden) and turning down a marriage proposal from Oleg Cassini, Kelly met Rainier, the prince of a popular Mediterranean resort town who was searching for a princess he hoped would become "the manifestation of all that we hope for and dream about in Monaco." Nine months after what was called "the wedding of the century" (watched by 30 million TV viewers) in 1956, Grace gave birth to the first of their three children. Never planning to stop making films, she bowed to her husband's wishes and soon her loneliness and boredom were replaced by severe depression. The prince encouraged her to accept Alfred Hitchcock's offer of the lead in "Marnie." But the subjects of Monaco objected and forced her to withdraw.
Before her tragic car accident death in 1982, Grace found contentment in the life she chose. As he demonstrated in his 2002 bestseller, "Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot," Taraborrelli is adept at illuminating political intrigue and complex family dynamics. He smoothly weaves together hundreds of exclusive interviews (in fast-paced, short chapters) to create vivid, full-blooded portraits. This is the definitive book on a marriage that started as an arrangement but ended as a love story.
I interviewed J. Randy Taraborrelli for PUBLISHERS WEEKLY in 2003 when this book came out.
PW: What was the most surprising thing you learned while writing Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier?
J. Randy Taraborrelli: I was most surprised by how tormented Grace Kelly's life was, both before and after she married Prince Rainier. Though many people saw her as a glamorous celebrity who got anything she wanted, she actually struggled through most of her life. When you look at what she had achieved up until the time she met the prince, it's difficult to imagine that she decided to marry him. She was an Academy Award—winning actress at the height of her career who gave it all up for a man she thought she loved. It was a tremendous sacrifice and one that, at different times along the way, she deeply regretted.
PW: What's the most common misperception about Princess Grace?
JRT: That the real Grace was similar to her on-screen persona: cold, distant and formal. In truth, Grace was a woman who saw the power that her beauty and sex appeal had on others—and she used it to her advantage. She had always craved approval from her father, and that led her, I believe, to try to find validation from many men along the way. Once in Hollywood, she discovered just how influential her sexuality could be. At a time when women were far less liberal-minded with their sexuality, Grace really was unapologetic about her ability to make men swoon.
PW: Didn't the results of her whirlwind marriage surprise her?
JRT: She had visited Monaco only once before moving there, and that was for, perhaps, 30 minutes when she first met Rainier! She had been an independent woman used to making her own choices about life. Once in Monaco, not only did she have a husband who was opinionated and rigid, she also had her subjects, the people of Monaco, who, ironically, ruled her in many ways. It was a principality that expected much of their princess, and Grace felt that pressure.
PW: How did Grace evolve into Princess Grace?
JRT: At first, she resisted embracing her new life as a royal. She had worked so hard to create the Hollywood image with which America had fallen in love, she was hesitant to dispose of it. When she finally accepted that her career as a movie star was over, she began the second stage of her reign—then with more commitment to her responsibilities as princess, and with much more peace.
PW: There are differing theories on how she died. Which do you believe?
JRT: I spent a great deal of time researching the car accident and I now understand why so many people still believe Princess Stephanie was driving the car. I outlined the chain of events that occurred that weekend, the arguments Grace and Rainier had with Stephanie over her wanting to drop out of college and become a race car driver. I think you have to read the book to really form an opinion. I was surprised to learn that the palace orchestrated a cover-up of certain details that would most certainly have cleared Stephanie in the court of public opinion, had everyone just been more honest.
PW: At the time of her death, was Grace happy?
JRT: She had always been a woman used to making her own choices, and when she finally began to accept the life she had chosen for herself, that's when she found peace in it. I think it's a universal story, especially during these difficult times when people are really examining their lives. We all have certain regrets. We all find ourselves in imperfect circumstances. As I wrote in the book, sometimes, the real challenge of living has to do with making a life that seems to no longer work... work. The secret is to not succumb to our regrets, but to rise above them, and then get on with things. Which is exactly what Princess Grace eventually did with her own life.
March 23, 2011
I always wanted to be a princess. Didn’t every girl growing up in the fifties have a “secret” dream about becoming a princess? Actually, I thought Prince Charles (Great Britain) would wait for me. When he finally married I was let down, even though I had been married myself many years by that time. So how could Grace Kelly refuse when a real Prince asked her to marry him?
Grace Kelly was never able to please her parents. It seems her sisters and brothers won all the awards, all the sports competitions, everything that meant success when raising children. Grace couldn’t seem to excel at anything. So she always had a hidden obsession to try to win her parents praise, especially that of her father.
When Grace won an Academy Award she thought her parents would be overwhelmed with joy and pride. However, they took it in stride and her father even made some humorous comments about it. So, when she had the opportunity to marry a Prince, she thought that this would finally fit the bill for the social climbing desires of her father and family. She was right; it was indeed a time of pride for them.
Prince Rainier needed a Princess in order to assure that the ruling line of Monaco would continue. If he didn’t have any heirs, the principality would revert back to the control of France. When he met Grace, she went to top of his prospect list.
Their marriage fulfilled needs they both had and was more an arrangement or contract than what one usually thinks of when dreaming of “fairy tales”. That the marriage worked and that they did, indeed, come to love one another deeply, is the real story and it was a great one.
The author did extensive research and walks the reader through Grace’s life, before and after she becomes Princess Grace. I found the book interesting, well written, and it made me feel that I somehow have touched the life of this real person who was both Grace Kelly and Princess Grace. I enjoyed the book and recommend it highly.
Grace Kelly was never able to please her parents. It seems her sisters and brothers won all the awards, all the sports competitions, everything that meant success when raising children. Grace couldn’t seem to excel at anything. So she always had a hidden obsession to try to win her parents praise, especially that of her father.
When Grace won an Academy Award she thought her parents would be overwhelmed with joy and pride. However, they took it in stride and her father even made some humorous comments about it. So, when she had the opportunity to marry a Prince, she thought that this would finally fit the bill for the social climbing desires of her father and family. She was right; it was indeed a time of pride for them.
Prince Rainier needed a Princess in order to assure that the ruling line of Monaco would continue. If he didn’t have any heirs, the principality would revert back to the control of France. When he met Grace, she went to top of his prospect list.
Their marriage fulfilled needs they both had and was more an arrangement or contract than what one usually thinks of when dreaming of “fairy tales”. That the marriage worked and that they did, indeed, come to love one another deeply, is the real story and it was a great one.
The author did extensive research and walks the reader through Grace’s life, before and after she becomes Princess Grace. I found the book interesting, well written, and it made me feel that I somehow have touched the life of this real person who was both Grace Kelly and Princess Grace. I enjoyed the book and recommend it highly.
December 11, 2018
Audiobook #238
June 1, 2025
Over 600 pages and I feel I know just as little about these two people as before I started reading.
Also, boooring.
Also, boooring.
May 4, 2016
At the end of Disney's Cinderella, Cinderella marries Prince Charming, and they live happily ever after. Or so we're told. But what happens after the wedding? Cinderella has only known her husband a day or two. She's just married a virtual stranger and is now a princess. How will her marriage work? Will they have kids? What sacrifices did she have to make to keep her prince? What does happily ever after mean?
To me, the story of Princess Grace's life, while not a perfect fit to Cinderella, answers many of those questions. To many Americans, Grace Kelly marrying Prince Rainer of Monaco was like watching a fairytale come to life: the beautiful American movie star and the handsome prince of an exotic country. That fairytale, however, was fraught with hurt, disappointments, and all the other small nuances that make up life. It isn't your perfect happily ever after because for all she gained Princess Grace lost just as much: her career, her old life, her freedom... When I read about Grace giving up her movie career after the people of Monaco were outraged at the idea of her making a film, I thought of my mother and all the things she's given up for me, the things she continues to give up for me. One time, I asked her why she did it, and she said that she would've done certain things differently in her life if she could've but that I had the choice to live my life anyway I choose. For all the tension and disagreements between Princess Grace and her daughters, I wonder if they've ever thought about how much their mother had to sacrifice and give up to be their mother.
Princess Grace and Prince Rainer's love story is not a perfect one, but I like to believe it was a love story by the end. These were two people pressured in different ways who had to learn how to be with one another and raise their children together and be in the spotlight together. I personally like Prince Rainer, and I think he treated Princess Grace well. He cared about her happiness, and it made him unhappy that she was unhappy in their country even if he couldn't necessarily fix it. By the time of Grace's death, the couple had come to appreciate each other for what they were: life-long partners and companions with mutual love and respect for each other.
As per usual, J. Randy Taraborrelli delivers a detailed and nuanced account of people more wildly complex than imagined. Definitely a good resource on Princess Grace.
To me, the story of Princess Grace's life, while not a perfect fit to Cinderella, answers many of those questions. To many Americans, Grace Kelly marrying Prince Rainer of Monaco was like watching a fairytale come to life: the beautiful American movie star and the handsome prince of an exotic country. That fairytale, however, was fraught with hurt, disappointments, and all the other small nuances that make up life. It isn't your perfect happily ever after because for all she gained Princess Grace lost just as much: her career, her old life, her freedom... When I read about Grace giving up her movie career after the people of Monaco were outraged at the idea of her making a film, I thought of my mother and all the things she's given up for me, the things she continues to give up for me. One time, I asked her why she did it, and she said that she would've done certain things differently in her life if she could've but that I had the choice to live my life anyway I choose. For all the tension and disagreements between Princess Grace and her daughters, I wonder if they've ever thought about how much their mother had to sacrifice and give up to be their mother.
Princess Grace and Prince Rainer's love story is not a perfect one, but I like to believe it was a love story by the end. These were two people pressured in different ways who had to learn how to be with one another and raise their children together and be in the spotlight together. I personally like Prince Rainer, and I think he treated Princess Grace well. He cared about her happiness, and it made him unhappy that she was unhappy in their country even if he couldn't necessarily fix it. By the time of Grace's death, the couple had come to appreciate each other for what they were: life-long partners and companions with mutual love and respect for each other.
As per usual, J. Randy Taraborrelli delivers a detailed and nuanced account of people more wildly complex than imagined. Definitely a good resource on Princess Grace.
June 26, 2011
A solid read. Offers a good overview on Grace Kelly's life before becoming a princess (growing up, issues with parents, being a young actress starting out, becoming a Hollywood star), on the state of Monaco and the Grimaldi family (what a bunch, really!), and on the marriage and family life of Grace and Rainier and their children (many ups, but in general more downs, oh my). Finished this just in time to feel well informed for the upcoming marriage of Albert and Charlotte.
August 18, 2011
A great story...really fascinating. However, the author I was not very impressed with. Poor use of language and it was very repetitive at times. I would probably decide against reading another of his books, despite being interested in the content.
March 6, 2016
3.8
Such a sad life for such a beautiful person!
Such a sad life for such a beautiful person!
October 12, 2019
Imagine asking the most dressed up dude at comic con to give you a biography of Stan Lee, and you will have an idea of how fan-boy this book reads. I like nerding out to our favorite things, I do. I just would have preferred knowing it on the front end so I could have picked a more condensed version or one which didn't insist on being more right and true to the feelings of the principle players than any other biography ever because the rest got it all wrong!... at least, that was how this one read to me. At first, I wanted to equate it with the Cleopatra biography which managed to bring to life such a celebrated, rumor-filled, historical figure, but as more and more pages stated that "others said this, but nothing could be further from the truth!" with nothing more than the author's desires to maintain the perfect persona of Grace of Monaco to back it up, I began to realize that this biography was more hagiography than anything else. I do, however, now know more about the royals of Monaco than I had ever dreamed of knowing before.
January 15, 2023
Mit seinen Informationen über das Leben des Fürstenpaars, kann das Buch punkten. Es werden viele, durchaus interessante Einzelheiten aufgelistet.
Leider ist das auch das Problem des Buches, es reihen sich einfach nur sehr viele, auch unwichtige, Fakten aneinander. Durch die merkwürdige Zusammensetzung bzw. Verwendung bestimmter Zitate und dem Rest des Textes, aber auch die Dopplung von Inhalten (Dejavús in Hülle und Fülle.) wird einem das Lesen nicht einfach gemacht.
Das Buch mit den 458 Seiten hätte man m.E.n. auf fast die Hälfte kürzen können, ohne an Informationsgehalt zu verlieren.
Eine Leseempfehlung gibt es hier leider nicht wirklich von mir, auch wenn ich es selber bis zum Schluss durchgezogen habe.
Leider ist das auch das Problem des Buches, es reihen sich einfach nur sehr viele, auch unwichtige, Fakten aneinander. Durch die merkwürdige Zusammensetzung bzw. Verwendung bestimmter Zitate und dem Rest des Textes, aber auch die Dopplung von Inhalten (Dejavús in Hülle und Fülle.) wird einem das Lesen nicht einfach gemacht.
Das Buch mit den 458 Seiten hätte man m.E.n. auf fast die Hälfte kürzen können, ohne an Informationsgehalt zu verlieren.
Eine Leseempfehlung gibt es hier leider nicht wirklich von mir, auch wenn ich es selber bis zum Schluss durchgezogen habe.
July 28, 2023
Vielleicht habe ich am Ende etwas geweint. 😅
Besonders Rainer ist mir in diesem Buch ans Herz gewachsen. Er war vielleicht kein leichter Mann, aber er hat seine Grace geliebt.
Besonders Rainer ist mir in diesem Buch ans Herz gewachsen. Er war vielleicht kein leichter Mann, aber er hat seine Grace geliebt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2021
I really like this author! This book focus on the relationship and the life shared between Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco.
August 8, 2011
Found it very hard to get into and ultimately found it a boring read. But to be honest that was probably more to do with the mood i was in. Grace Kelly herself was not a very interesting character, she married the Prince to gain her father's attention and affection. Whilst mothering her own children she turned into the kind of parent that she had detested growing up in a strick Catholic household.
December 13, 2015
Manchmal besteht die wirkliche Herausforderung des Lebens darin, ein Leben, das nicht mehr zu funktionieren scheint, zum Funktionieren zu bringen. Wir alle haben einmal Hoffnungen gehegt, von denen wir uns über die Jahre mit Bedauern verabschieden mussten. Das Geheimnis besteht darin, sich diesem Bedauern nicht hinzugeben, sondern sich darüber zu erheben und damit weiterzuleben.....
August 18, 2021
DNF at 54%
i tried, i really did. i would've dnf'd half way through but i was trying to promise myself to finish it but first off: i know this is large print, but 800+ pages?!
i know a lot about grace kelly and prince rainier iii, and the monaco family. i didn't know much of the history, which i found very interesting while reading this book, but when it came to grace and rainier's history... it felt weird. and off.
j. randy taraborrelli really put me off when he kept referring to the people of monaco as their "subjects" because it was late 90's, early 2000's when this guy wrote this book, not the 1500's. and what was the whole thing with saying their full name? when i'm reading an autobiography, i'm fine with just reading their first name - he did refer to them as their official titles because of certain things, which i understand, but if i'm starting out a sentence about them just eating dinner, i don't need to read them being referred as "grace kelly" or "rainier grimaldi/prince rainier" because it feels very impersonal to me.
i know there are a lot of accounts from their friends and family but the book, a lot of the time, felt very.... dramatized, in a sense. a lot of the stories i had gotten to, i knew about and had done my own research before, but a lot of it felt like he added in the drama for scandal when people read this book.
i'm not trying to say that grace wasn't unhappy because she was in an unfamiliar place with no family, no friends and gave her whole career for love and marriage and it all must have been culture shock and i'm not saying that rainier probably was an a**ha* some of the times, but it was very hard for me to believe that grace and rainier didn't love one another. i understand marriages are complicated and god only knows what must've really been their relationship behind doors, but to me, when i see the pictures of rainier and grace or see home footage of them, i do see the love they have for another.
what really made me stop reading and what put me off the most was when he was retelling what happened to tippi hedren and the harassment from hitchcock on marnie and he implied that grace would "never have put up with it" and she would've "put an end to it at the very beginning" then proceeded to say that hithcock would say inappropriate things about her. um.................... what?!
i tried, i really did. i would've dnf'd half way through but i was trying to promise myself to finish it but first off: i know this is large print, but 800+ pages?!
i know a lot about grace kelly and prince rainier iii, and the monaco family. i didn't know much of the history, which i found very interesting while reading this book, but when it came to grace and rainier's history... it felt weird. and off.
j. randy taraborrelli really put me off when he kept referring to the people of monaco as their "subjects" because it was late 90's, early 2000's when this guy wrote this book, not the 1500's. and what was the whole thing with saying their full name? when i'm reading an autobiography, i'm fine with just reading their first name - he did refer to them as their official titles because of certain things, which i understand, but if i'm starting out a sentence about them just eating dinner, i don't need to read them being referred as "grace kelly" or "rainier grimaldi/prince rainier" because it feels very impersonal to me.
i know there are a lot of accounts from their friends and family but the book, a lot of the time, felt very.... dramatized, in a sense. a lot of the stories i had gotten to, i knew about and had done my own research before, but a lot of it felt like he added in the drama for scandal when people read this book.
i'm not trying to say that grace wasn't unhappy because she was in an unfamiliar place with no family, no friends and gave her whole career for love and marriage and it all must have been culture shock and i'm not saying that rainier probably was an a**ha* some of the times, but it was very hard for me to believe that grace and rainier didn't love one another. i understand marriages are complicated and god only knows what must've really been their relationship behind doors, but to me, when i see the pictures of rainier and grace or see home footage of them, i do see the love they have for another.
what really made me stop reading and what put me off the most was when he was retelling what happened to tippi hedren and the harassment from hitchcock on marnie and he implied that grace would "never have put up with it" and she would've "put an end to it at the very beginning" then proceeded to say that hithcock would say inappropriate things about her. um.................... what?!
January 23, 2020
This is the story of Grace Kelley's life and how she became the Princess of Monaco. Grace came from a privileged backgound with parents who were not always kind. She became a beloved Hollyood Actress, and while at an awards ceremony made an appearance at the Palace in Monaco as part of a publicity stunt. What occured is that Prince Rainier became fond of Grace. Their chance meeting eventually lead to a marriage, 3 children, and a life that Grace never expected (or really wanted). Grace was forced to give up her career in Hollywood to become the Princess of Monaco. This left her with a lot of regrets. After her children were born, her life - according to her - became one full of lonliness and bordom and not what she had thought it would be.
Grace Kelley died in a car accident in 1982 right around the time she was starting to feel contented with the life she was dealt. She left behind a distraut husband and children and a legacy that is known around the world.
This was a pretty good book. It is simply written, but the story flowed well. My take away from the book was the Grace was very unhappy as the princess of Monaco. She really missed being a Hollywood star and felt that she gave us way too much to be a princess. Her children were not well adjusted - the youngest child having many problems. Her husband not very warm or comforting. Her parents - terrible people who only cared about their status in the world. Overall- the whole lot of them seemed miserable. What a way to live.
The story was interesting and entertaining and eye opening. I knew very little about Grace Kelley and her time as the Princess of Monaco beyond the fact that she WAS the Princess of Monaco. So I did learn quite a bit. Glad I found this book.
Grace Kelley died in a car accident in 1982 right around the time she was starting to feel contented with the life she was dealt. She left behind a distraut husband and children and a legacy that is known around the world.
This was a pretty good book. It is simply written, but the story flowed well. My take away from the book was the Grace was very unhappy as the princess of Monaco. She really missed being a Hollywood star and felt that she gave us way too much to be a princess. Her children were not well adjusted - the youngest child having many problems. Her husband not very warm or comforting. Her parents - terrible people who only cared about their status in the world. Overall- the whole lot of them seemed miserable. What a way to live.
The story was interesting and entertaining and eye opening. I knew very little about Grace Kelley and her time as the Princess of Monaco beyond the fact that she WAS the Princess of Monaco. So I did learn quite a bit. Glad I found this book.
December 6, 2023
Although this gave me a lot of context for European royalty, Monaco as the principality relates to the rest of Europe, Grace Kelley's life in Philadelphia, Hollywood, Monaco and Paris, the Grimaldi family drama, the unfortunate rowdiness of Grace and Ranier's daughters and the strong legacy of Prince Albert II, I can't ignore how pristine the story unfolds.
This is more a reaction to how the story was written than the events documented.
This book reads like its goal was to document Grace and Rainer's story, nodding to the scandalous natures of Grace Kelly and her daughters, but... written for grandmothers. There's something so uncomfortably proper about the language of this book, which made for an equally captivating and unsettling read. I don't read cozy mysteries, but this read as smoothly as I imagine those would read, where it takes just about no effort for the reader to follow the journey, and the story told is intriguing and a little off color but doesn't cross some kind of proper or moral line. Which is so weird to argue having just read about premarital sex, drug and alcohol consumption, modern royal bloodlines continued out of wedlock, murder, theft, Hollywood, rape, etc. The most specific example I can reference is how the author discusses Grace's fatal car accident. It was described in terms of gore, but no gore was used to describe the scene. In fact, the final punch of that story was only surprising because so little of the reality of the accident was discussed that the mention of Grace having not worn her seatbelt, a critical detail leading to her death, felt shocking.
Anyway, Grace was a queen of a princess and I have to go watch her movies now because I'm a bad gay for having so far seen none of them.
This is more a reaction to how the story was written than the events documented.
This book reads like its goal was to document Grace and Rainer's story, nodding to the scandalous natures of Grace Kelly and her daughters, but... written for grandmothers. There's something so uncomfortably proper about the language of this book, which made for an equally captivating and unsettling read. I don't read cozy mysteries, but this read as smoothly as I imagine those would read, where it takes just about no effort for the reader to follow the journey, and the story told is intriguing and a little off color but doesn't cross some kind of proper or moral line. Which is so weird to argue having just read about premarital sex, drug and alcohol consumption, modern royal bloodlines continued out of wedlock, murder, theft, Hollywood, rape, etc. The most specific example I can reference is how the author discusses Grace's fatal car accident. It was described in terms of gore, but no gore was used to describe the scene. In fact, the final punch of that story was only surprising because so little of the reality of the accident was discussed that the mention of Grace having not worn her seatbelt, a critical detail leading to her death, felt shocking.
Anyway, Grace was a queen of a princess and I have to go watch her movies now because I'm a bad gay for having so far seen none of them.
May 25, 2022
Interesting read, however.......
I did enjoy reading this book. I was born in 1956 & of course in years to come, heard much about Grace Kelly/ Princess Grace of Monaco. I remember the shock when she died so young due to a car accident where she was the driver. This book told me so much more about her as a person, not just as a movie star or Princess. It was surprising to me to learn how unhappy she was to give up her career, this was something I never was aware of ....which is probably how the family preferred it. To my complete amazement and total disappointment, there were NO PICTURES!!! All the way through, I waited for pictures! As I neared the ending, and was only around 85-90% through the book, I decided the pictures must be at the end. But NO! although it was somewhat interesting to 'catch up' with Grace's children and husband after her untimely passing, I wanted....needed pictures! Future authors please be aware... include them. PLEASE! I have never seen any of her movies (which I must do now!) so really have no idea how 'beautiful' she was. I wanted so badly to see pictures of her wedding, the Kelly family, candid photos of her before becoming a Princess, any photos of her and Prince Ranier, any of her & her children. It is beyond me how anyone can spend so much time researching a person's whole life and not include ANY pictures!! This is the reason for my 4 star rating rather than 5.
I did enjoy reading this book. I was born in 1956 & of course in years to come, heard much about Grace Kelly/ Princess Grace of Monaco. I remember the shock when she died so young due to a car accident where she was the driver. This book told me so much more about her as a person, not just as a movie star or Princess. It was surprising to me to learn how unhappy she was to give up her career, this was something I never was aware of ....which is probably how the family preferred it. To my complete amazement and total disappointment, there were NO PICTURES!!! All the way through, I waited for pictures! As I neared the ending, and was only around 85-90% through the book, I decided the pictures must be at the end. But NO! although it was somewhat interesting to 'catch up' with Grace's children and husband after her untimely passing, I wanted....needed pictures! Future authors please be aware... include them. PLEASE! I have never seen any of her movies (which I must do now!) so really have no idea how 'beautiful' she was. I wanted so badly to see pictures of her wedding, the Kelly family, candid photos of her before becoming a Princess, any photos of her and Prince Ranier, any of her & her children. It is beyond me how anyone can spend so much time researching a person's whole life and not include ANY pictures!! This is the reason for my 4 star rating rather than 5.
December 27, 2024
I've had this audiobook in my collection for years and finally decided to listen to it. I don't think I read this one when it came out. Narrated by the late great Edward Hermann, I enjoyed listening to the book, but I think it was an abridged version.
Brief family histories are given for Rainier and Grace and their lives leading up to their meeting. Contrary to other salacious books about Kelly, Taraborrelli states that she only had affairs with two of her co-stars, not all of them, as some publications suggest. She wins the Academy Award and next thing you know, she's off to the Cannes Film Festival, which is the trip where she meets Rainier III (one little gripe is the constant use of the name Rainier III--after a while, I was like, "Yes, I know he was the THIRD Rainier. Just say Rainier!")
Like most of the other books about Grace Kelly, they mention the discontent she felt by giving up her life to marry and move halfway across the globe. She ultimately decided that she should just accept her life and finally found some contentment.
Brief family histories are given for Rainier and Grace and their lives leading up to their meeting. Contrary to other salacious books about Kelly, Taraborrelli states that she only had affairs with two of her co-stars, not all of them, as some publications suggest. She wins the Academy Award and next thing you know, she's off to the Cannes Film Festival, which is the trip where she meets Rainier III (one little gripe is the constant use of the name Rainier III--after a while, I was like, "Yes, I know he was the THIRD Rainier. Just say Rainier!")
Like most of the other books about Grace Kelly, they mention the discontent she felt by giving up her life to marry and move halfway across the globe. She ultimately decided that she should just accept her life and finally found some contentment.
March 2, 2017
A very illuminating read. Because the book's focus is the relationship between Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier, Kelly's Hollywood career doesn't receive as much attention as it would in other biographies. But Taraborrelli does a great job establishing all that Kelly gave up to marry the prince of Monaco. The story is engaging although the author does tend to repeat himself from time to time rephrasing the same idea in different sentences. But he does a great job of opening up Grace's and Rainier's lives and marriage. Well worth the read.
April 24, 2018
Princess Grace and Rainier
I did think the book was interesting and told of their marriage and the trouble they had with their girls, But , the book was boring in so many parts of it. It gave to much information about people or organizations that at least I didn’t know or care about. A few sentences would have been enough. Then when the book was over there was page after page of interesting tidbits that should have been put in the book. I guess I think the writer should have done a better job of editing, throwing out a lot and adding other things.
I did think the book was interesting and told of their marriage and the trouble they had with their girls, But , the book was boring in so many parts of it. It gave to much information about people or organizations that at least I didn’t know or care about. A few sentences would have been enough. Then when the book was over there was page after page of interesting tidbits that should have been put in the book. I guess I think the writer should have done a better job of editing, throwing out a lot and adding other things.
October 28, 2018
Before reading this book, I did not know barely anything about Grace Kelly other than that she was a beautiful actress who became a Princess. This book really made me feel like I could relate to her, because her experience is the universal experience that every truly beautiful woman goes through as she ages and must become a wife and mother instead of the star of her own life. I found Princess Grace completely relatable and the book was well written. Her death and funeral made me cry. This book is an excellent homage to two wonderful people, the Prince and Princess of Monaco.
March 5, 2019
It's rare occasion indeed that I don't finish a book. This one caught my attention and I downloaded it to Kindle because I hadn't read a biography for a while and thought this one might be somewhat entertaining. I was wrong.
First, the book is far too long. I learned about all I wanted to know in the first 100 pages. After that, the story was just too detailed, too slow moving, and too repetitive. I guess if one is fascinated with celebrity and just needs to know every microscopic detail about a personality, this book might do.
First, the book is far too long. I learned about all I wanted to know in the first 100 pages. After that, the story was just too detailed, too slow moving, and too repetitive. I guess if one is fascinated with celebrity and just needs to know every microscopic detail about a personality, this book might do.
September 10, 2023
Once upon a time, one of Hollywood’s most beautiful leading ladies fell in love with a dashing young Prince. The Royal couple seemed to have found a fairytale come true. Yet, Grace somehow thought she could maintain a life with her friends and a motion picture here and there. Alas, that was not the life of beautiful but lonely Princess. She acquiesced and devoted herself to her three children, all east two of them quite wild. On the winding roads of Monaco, Grace missed a sharp turn, and the fairytale was over much too soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2017
I especially liked reading about the background of the events that happened during my lifetime. I e
Very good biography of the royal family of Monaco; the story was well researched and beautifully written. I especially liked learning the background of events that occurred during my lifetime. I am a longtime admirer of Grace Kelly, and this author has wonderfully answered all of my questions!
Very good biography of the royal family of Monaco; the story was well researched and beautifully written. I especially liked learning the background of events that occurred during my lifetime. I am a longtime admirer of Grace Kelly, and this author has wonderfully answered all of my questions!
January 5, 2018
Pretty good story, but sad, of course. I remember when Princess Grace died, but I didn't really know much about her before I read this book. It definitely fills in several blanks and makes me appreciate her more.
This fulfills the 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge: "Set in a country that fascinates you" or "About a Real Person" I reserve the right to put it in a final category at the end of the year.
This fulfills the 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge: "Set in a country that fascinates you" or "About a Real Person" I reserve the right to put it in a final category at the end of the year.
May 4, 2024
Having read a couple of Taraborrelli’s books, this is my favorite thus far. Sometimes he can get too into the details for me and things drag out, but with the exception of a few chapters of this book (we got it, Grace changed!), I thought this one had very few dry spots. It should be noted though that it is outdated as Rainier is still Prince and there is no updated addendum to it. Overall, would recommend to anyone who has an interest in Princess Grace/The Grimaldi family.
January 15, 2021
Licht gedateerd boek over de actrice Grace Kelly tevens Gracia, prinses van Monaco. Uitstekende biografie voor ‘starters’ zoals ikzelf die niet veel meer over haar weten dan hoe ze om het leven kwam... De appendix, hoe het met de kinderen van Gracia na haar dood is gegaan is niet actueel meer, prins Albert is inmiddels getrouwd en heeft kinderen.
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