Campbell, Lady Colin (Princess of Wales, Diana)

Diana in Private: The Princess Nobody Knows

ISBN: 0312081804
New York, NY, USA: St. Martin's Press, 1992. First U.S. Edition. Hardcover. "Everyone knows the public Diana: the sweet, shy English girl with 'a history but no past' who married the Prince of Wales in a storybook wedding. But what of Diana in private? Was she really just an innocent kindergarten teacher when she and Prince Charles got engaged? Was she truly in love with her fiancé—and how did he feel about her? And what went on behind the palace gates after the honeymoon was over?" (from front flap) Lady Colin Campbell (born Georgia Ziadie, 1949) joined the legions of royalty and aristocracy when she married the son of the Duke of Argyll, Lord Colin Campbell in 1974. Although they separated in less than a year and divorced 5 months after that, she retained the moniker for her public life as a socialite and royal insider. This biography of Princess Diana (born Diana Spencer, 1961-1997) was one of the earliest published works to present Diana in an unflattering and critical light, and it was regarded as being malicious and self-serving with exaggerations and fabricated sources. Her sourcing was notably vague—attributing information to "a friend of a friend," "a member of the household," or "a courtier," which critics felt undermined her claims of genuine royal access. Although this volume was controversial and criticized heavily, the information surrounding Diana's relationship with the royal family and Charles's relationship with Camilla was corroborated to an extent in the years since. Campbell followed up with The Real Diana in 1998 after the tragic death of Diana in 1997, and this second volume was received better though some still saw it as too reliant on gossip over facts. Despite the controversy, Campbell has remained in the public eye as a royal affairs commentator online and continued to publish unofficial biographies of royals. All in all, this is among the pieces that together may provide a more thorough understanding of the life of Diana Spencer. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket: "First U.S. Edition: June 1992," as stated on copyright page, first printing as indicated by number sequence thereon. From the collection of Barbara (1935-2023) & Irving (1933-2018) Nusbaum - world travelers, connoisseurs, eminent collectors of art & books, and the dearly beloved late parents of our esteemed founder, Arthur S. Nusbaum. Book is in fine-to-very-fine condition with only mild bumping to the top and bottom edges of the spine. Interior is very fine with only the slightest age-toning to pages. Dust jacket is near fine with mild rubbing, scratching to front, back covers, though largely unnoticeable unless held in certain light; very slight bumping/creasing to top edge of spine near back cover; the fold of the front flap is imperfect making the top edge of the flap slightly peek out over the top of the front cover. Fine-Very Fine / Near Fine. [Item #8781]

Price: $25.00