One of the most famous and more recent glamorous icons worthy of the mind-boggling number of published biographies is Diana, the late one-time Princess of Wales. Her public image was not only sharp and attractive, but her genuine and incomparable personality made her a dearly beloved figure of compassion and love around the world. With her early demise in the midst of questionable people and unfortunate circumstances, her internal demons were finally put to rest, although her memory will remain a strong presence in the hearts and minds of many as the years go by.

Tina Brown doesn't hesitate to “tell it like it is” throughout the entire biographicy meant to tell the most accurate and genuine tale of Diana’s life from start to finish. No rock was left unturned to ferret out the truth of both the obvious and the obscure portions of her life. Nothing unflattering about Diana’s personality or actions was masked, although those flaws were greatly credited for the amazing person she proved to be. These same flaws were also greatly reviewed and highlighted as potentially self-destructive factors that caused her to both need and hate the overwhelming and obtrusive paparazzi that ultimately took her life.

Diana was not perfect, and she suffered greatly from low self-esteem throughout her life. While this is perhaps a bad thing in many cases, it was just the right mix for a compassionate personality that won the hearts of people the world over. The only person who seemed to truly dislike her was Prince Charles, her one-time “Prince Charming” and husband for many years. Others came and went throughout her life, but her union with the Prince of Wales took her from Lady to Princess, nobody to somebody, and the mother of the future King of England.

Tina Brown does an excellent job of discovering those juicy details that make any gossip-loving person drool as well as highlighting Diana, her lifestyle, those she associated with, and the decisions she made from an Americanized celebrity perspective. The intimate look at Diana and the many paths her life followed is a remarkably great read and one worthy of her memory.