Diana and Jackie: Maidens, Mothers, Myths

by Jay Mulvaney

History has seen only a few women so magical, so evanescent, that they captured the spirit and imagination of their times. Diana, Princess of Wales and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were two of these rare creatures. They were the most famous women of the twentieth century ~ admired, respected, even adored at times; rebuked, mocked and reviled at others. Separated by nationality and a generation apart, they led two surprisingly similar lives.

Both were the daughters of acrimonious divorce. Both wed men twelve years their senior, men who needed "trophy brides" to advance their careers. Both married into powerful and domineering families, who tried, unsuccessfully, to tame their willful independence. Both inherited power through marriage and both rebelled within their official roles, forever crushing the archetype. And both revolutionized dynasties.

And yet in many ways they were completely different: Jackie lived her life with an English "stiff upper lip" ~ never complaining, never explaining in the face of immense public curiosity. Diana lived her life with an American "quivering lower lip" ~ with televised tell-alls, exposing her family drama to a world eager for every detail.

These two lives have been well documented but never before compared. And never before examined in the context of their times. Jay Mulvaney, author of Kennedy Weddings and Jackie: The Clothes of Camelot, probes the lives of these two twentieth century icons and discovers:

The nature of their personalities forged from the cradle by their relationships with their fathers, Black Jack Bouvier and Johnny Spencer.
·Their early years, and their early relationships with men.
·Their marriages, and the truth behind the lies, the betrayals and the arrangements.
·Their greatest achievements: motherhood.
·Their prickly relationships with their august mothers-in-law, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II
· Their lives as single women, working mothers.
· Their roles as icons and archetypes.

Graced with never before seen photographs from many private collections, and painstakingly researched, 0Diana and Jackie presents these two remarkable and unique women as they have never been seen before.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Royalty

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2002

About the author

Paul De Angelis served more than three decades in the book publishing business as Editor, Editorial Director, or Editor-in-Chief of such publishing companies as St. Martin's Press and E.P. Dutton and Kodansha America. After becoming an independent editor in 1996 he founded Paul De Angelis Book Development, which assists authors, agents, publishers and organizations in turning ideas & manuscripts into books. Since 1997 Paul has edited, contributed to, and co-published the quarterly guide to the Rhinebeck-Red Hook-Hudson area of the mid-Hudson Valley, AboutTown. In the past few years his main writing and research interest has been American culture and politics in its intersection with the wider world."

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating take on two very interesting women who had a great impact on the world. It was an ok read. Unpopular Opinion Alert: I don't really like Princess Diana. Shocked right she's The Peoples Princess and a saint. I just think she was a whiny, spoiled brat. Sorry (Not Sorry). So I read this book mostly for Jackie Kennedy who I love. The book is suppose to be about how similar they are but I didn't see it. Jackie was a class act and Princess Di was a petulant child. I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone but read it if you want to.

[Jan Martinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading about Jackie and Diana.interesting how similar their lives were!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to like this book too much, fearing it would be some kind of joint hagiography. But it is pretty well written and although the writer makes no bones about his admiration of both these iconic women of the late 20th century he is not afraid to talk about their flaws too, particularly in the case of Diana. There are a number of clear correspondences between the two - both were daughters of broken marriages, both were brought up in high society, both married husbands who were chronically unfaithful, both marriages were cut short (one by assassination and the other by divorce), both were fashion icons, and so on. But Mulvaney also covers the differences between the two women, and concludes that "Jackie successfully rode the tiger that is fame, while Diana spent most of her life being tumbled and tossed about. Just as she was gaining a stronger understanding of her ability to empathise with those in need, she fell victim to her fame, hunted like an animal into a tunnel."

[Irisdiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books on Princess Diana and a few about Jackie. This book was amazing! Really dove into their lives and the comparisons so interesting as well as the differences. Two women who the world idolized were stripped down to the girl, woman, bride, wife, mother, widow, divorcee, single under the pressure of the press and the whole world watching. If you only read one book about Diana this should be it!

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book very much. It gave a lot of insight into the personal lives of both women. We will never see their like again. I was glad to know Jackie and Jack loved each other despite all the rumors otherwise. I was also happy to know Diana had become her own woman...how proud she would be of William and Harry. The photographs were an added gem!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting comparison of the lives of Jackie Kennedy & Diana Princess of Wales. I enjoyed the read, which showed several.parallels of these women who lived so much of their lives in the public eye. Overall, Jackie was seen in a more favorable light.

[Laurie Hoppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining read. While Mulvaney doesn't uncover anything I didn't already know when I picked this book up – no sin there, as these are two much written about women! – he put it in a context I hadn't seen before.

[Huguette Larochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book on the life of 2 great lady, like 2 books in one.
well done , i enjoy reading it.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Diana and Jackie" is perfect for light reading, but this book reveals nothing new about either lady, nor does it delve very deeply into either's personality.
While there were certain characteristics that Diana and Jackie both shared (married to powerful men; media princesses; overcoming personal tragedy; mothers to children in the spotlight) there seem to be more differences than similarities. Jackie never aired her dirty laundry in public, while Diana elevated it to an art form. Jackie was well educated and definitely a lady of the world, before marrying Jack Kennedy, while Diana never graduated beyond basic high school education and married Prince Charles before ever truly venturing out in the world on her own. Jackie was brought up to be self-reliant, while Diana depended heavily on a man for her own self-worth. (The story that Diana always felt unwanted, as she was not born a son and an heir simply don't ring true, as her brother was born when she was three years old)
True, the deaths of both ladies hit the public hard. Jackie's was expected, but didn't lessen the sadness. Diana's was unexpected and a shock. Both were stellar mothers, who brought their children up to be independent, sensitive and understanding of the massive media attention placed on them. And their children have been their greatest legacies, so far.

[Jen Six · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved both women, had read at length about Jackie, had just started my research into Diana and stumbled upon this book. Clever, how someone sat and thought it out entirely, and eerily, how these two women were so similar, years apart in history, and yet died within years of each other. I thought it was interesting that the Kennedy's had met and dealt some with the royal family, and how both women, in their married lives, lived under the shadow of those powerful inlaws of theirs. A touching moment for me, when reading, since I found this after JFK Jr. died, was how Diana had wished William and Harry could be like John and how she felt Jackie was a good mother to her children. Diana lives in memory as the mother of William and Harry, as Jackie is mainly remembered as the president's widow and the mother of the children who became the first royal family for America.

[Madame Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative bio of two of the most prolific women of the 20th century.

[Michell Karnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had seen this book at my local library for some time and have considered reading it on several occasions but thought I would not like it. I finally decided to read it and found it GREAT! The author did a wonderful job comparing and contrasting the lives of these two very famous women. While I did find a few trivial mistakes ( like saying Queen Victoria's oldest son was Arthur) it was still an interesting look at Jackie and Diana's life and how they handled their fame, children and in-laws.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good read. You will learn a lot about both women and see similarities and important differences in the events that shaped their lives.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to find this book in a used bookstore in Baltimore. Two women who have fascinated me for most of my life, turned out to be very similar.

[Evett DiBianco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of the most admired women in the celebrity world. The comparison between the two can be uncanny, but they are both strong individual women.

[Marianne Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed reading this book

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Today would be a good day to read it, on Will & Kate's wedding day & Di's birthday!

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was a great read! What can I say, I am bedazzled by these two woman.

[Dobanion]

Just more fluff.