A review by tessa_talks_books
The Princess by Wendy Holden

informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

 

What’s it about (in a nutshell):

The Princess by Wendy Holden is a novel about Princess Diana telling her childhood friend how she came to marry Prince Charles (now King).

My Reading Experience:

Wow, this story felt authentic. It didn’t change my opinion about anyone. Still, it definitely intensified feelings that were already there. And I attribute that to the authenticity. In this novel, Diana meets up with her friend in April 1992, just months before she officially separated from Charles. She tells her all that unfolded in the late 70s and early 80s until her wedding. Of course, it’s being told through the eyes of a woman who no longer sees events through rose-colored glasses. Still, other important people also narrated specific parts to balance what could be considered subjective.

I loved the woman empowerment feelings of Diana’s childhood friend, Sandy, versus the rules that Diana was raised with as a noble. It’s a great juxtaposition that clarifies how antiquated and even misogynistic the traditions and ideals of the nobility were during that time. The world has been growing and changing, yet the nobility was stuck back in a different time.

I initially saw footage of the courtship and wedding when I was very young and looked at it through the romantic eyes of a child and how the press portrayed it. It never occurred to me how much of a transaction it all was - barely more than an arranged marriage. My heart ached for Diana, who was also looking at the situation through the romantic eyes of a teen who read romance novels constantly. The reality didn’t take hold until she was married and had two children. I wondered why no one warned her about the reality - where was her family, and why weren’t they looking out for her, or would she have even listened?

Characters:

Princess Diana is very authentically and empathetically portrayed. She is fleshed out exquisitely to the point where I feel I understand her better now than I did when she was still alive. She believed in the ideal and wasn’t mature enough to see anything other than that ideal.

Narration & Pacing:

The pacing is a consistent medium pace that moves at a leisurely place but not one that feels too slow. The narration was mainly in first person, with Diana telling her friend, Sandy, what had happened and getting sections from other players in the tale -notably, the Prince’s valet, who played a prominent role in making the marriage happen and narrated sections. However, he was absent in the 1992 scene with Diana and Sandy.

Setting:

The setting was different areas of the UK, as the story took place in many other regions. It follows the real story consistently regarding the location.