Balanced and sane
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My fascination for the British Royal Family was first sparked in the late 1950s when I read THE LITTLE PRINCESSES written by the former governess to the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. My interest grew from there---the spark being fanned to a flame, naturally, when Princess Margaret married in 1960. But the marriage of the Prince of Wales to the Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 created an inferno of interest for me (and with that I will leave the fire metaphor behind). I was among those who hoped the "fairy tale" was for real but who early on suspected it was not. Nevertheless, I remained a "Di watcher" and a "Royal watcher." And, of course, Diana's death in 1997 has created even more to "watch." As a collector, I have obtained and read most of the books which have come out since the Paris crash. Some have been obvious flights of fancy, some syrupy tributes, some mean spirited and patently false. Martyn Gregory's book seems to be particularly objective, presenting a balanced and even account of the events just prior to and in the aftermath of the tragedy. Although the reader knows "what happened" from the beginning, Mr. Gregory manages to maintain a degree of suspense and a "what happened next" feel in his book. His conclusions as to the why and how of the tragedy are not any the less startling or appalling despite the seeming ordinariness of a fatal traffic accident caused by a drunk driver. "Di" fans looking for yet another tribute, will be disappointed. But interested observers will find this book satisfying and a welcome antidote to some of the "hysteria" writings being published about the crash in Paris.
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