Diana in Search of Herself
 | |
| Author | Sally Bedell Smith |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Biography |
| Publisher | Times Books |
Publication date | 1999 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | 0-8129-3030-4 |
Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess is one of the books about Diana, Princess of Wales. The book was written by best-selling author Sally Bedell Smith and was published by the Times Books in 1999.[1][2] The book is the first authoritative biography of the Princess.[3]
Content
[edit]The 320-page book focuses on the troubled life of Princess Diana.[2][4] Smith interviewed nearly 150 people whose reports are used in the book to narrate the life of the Princess.[5] These people were mainly Diana's intimates, including British tabloid journalists.[6] The book also featured 32 pages of unseen photographs of the Princess.[7]
The most significant claim made in the book is that the Princess had suffered from borderline personality disorder.[2][8] It also claimed that she could not manage her serious eating disorder and had difficulty sustaining relationships.[9]
Sales
[edit]The book was included in the best seller lists of the following: The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today Top 50, The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, Barnes & Noble and Publishers Weekly.[10]
Reception
[edit]Linda L. Richards of the January Magazine stated that the book provides an unbiased and balanced portrait of the Princess.[4][11] In a similar vein, the Newsweek review of the book indicated "Smith has done a remarkable job extracting what's genuinely pertinent and interesting about Diana...If you're going to read one Diana book, this should be it."[10]
On the other hand, the author was criticized by Dorothy Packer-Fletcher because of her claim that Diana had been experiencing borderline personality disorder.[12][13] Packer-Fletcher suggested that in order to establish this diagnosis there should have been a psychiatric examination.[12] She further argued that the author's statement was harmful because it was a "posthumous diagnosis of mental illness".[12]
The book became a bestseller and was also cited as controversial.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Diana in Search of Herself". The New York Times. 1999. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ a b c "Diana's Last Loves". People. Vol. 52, no. 7. 23 August 1999. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008.
- ^ Sally Bedell Smith (1999). Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess. Times Books. ISBN 9780812930306.
- ^ a b Linda L. Richards (August 1999). "The Final Word?". January Magazine.
- ^ Elaine Cassell. "Diana: In Search of Herself". Psych on the Shelves.
- ^ Joseph P. Kahn (12 September 1999). "Portrait of a Troubled Princess". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ "Diana: In Search of Herself". Kirkus Reviews. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ Margaret Moser (30 August 1999). "The Huntress Captured by the Game". Weekly Wire. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ "Diana in Search of Herself". Publishers Weekly. 8 January 1999. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Praise and Reviews". S. Bedell Smith. Archived from the original on 5 September 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ^ Sara Nelson (22 August 1999). "Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait". Newsday. ProQuest 279233991. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Dorothy Packer-Fletcher (February 2000). "Book Review". Psychiatric Services. 51 (2): 259–260. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.51.2.259.
- ^ a b Deirdre Donahue (29 January 2012). "'Elizabeth' Shows Many Facets of Britain's Queen". Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.