Flora Harding

Two Princesses of Wales. Dual Timelines. Neither to ever be Queen of England.

I caught sight of this book while browsing the late Princess Diana's biographies. The premise sounded interesting. Two different Princesses of Wales and two different timelines offer eerily similar lives.

I went into this book with high expectations and came out of it disappointed. As much as I love anything Diana, this book should have been clearly about Charlotte. There is more about her than Diana. This book brought nothing to the table about Diana that had not been written in the past - her bulimia, her hatred of Camilla, and the fact she was insecure in her relationship with Charles. All this had been public knowledge especially when it came to Diana's own book in the late 80s/early 90s.

I am also wondering about the journal. I used to write in one but I never wrote in it like the supposed novel filled to look like a book within a journal. I doubt even the rest of the royals had anything like this. If any of the royals kept personal diaries, they would not be this detailed as a bookish-like journal.

I won't give this book an actual rating. I don't believe DNFs should be given any sort of rating. Maybe I will come back to this book in the future.

DNFed @40%… (més)

The story of how our late Queen met her husband to be is well-known but Flora Harding really brings it to life in Before the Crown, a fictionalised but well-researched version of the events that led up to Elizabeth and Philip's wedding in 1947.

Against the odds, the couple were allowed to marry. Princess Elizabeth was the heir to the British throne whereas Prince Philip was a penniless naval officer from the exiled Greek royal family. Not many people were in favour of the match but the princess was determined. This was her man, and this is ultimately a story of romance versus duty and finding a way to combine the two successfully.

I love fictionalised stories of real events and none more so than when they are around royal events and the royal family. Earlier this year I read Harding's second royal novel, The People's Princess, which I thought was a fantastic read. I actually had Before the Crown on my shelves already and with recent events it seemed like the perfect time to pick it up and remember the Queen in happier, more carefree times, when she thought she had plenty of time ahead of her before she ascended to the throne.

Before the Crown is such an enjoyable read. I thought the characters were written perfectly and felt true to their real-life counterparts, and I was so taken with the portrayal of two young people with their whole lives ahead of them, especially knowing now what a long and happy marriage they went on to have. It's a lovely work of historical fiction that was absolutely right up my street, with one or two 'aah' moments that warmed the cockles of my heart. Charming and so engaging, I absolutely loved it.… (més)

The story of two princesses forms the core of this novel - that of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the nineteenth-century Princess Charlotte. As Diana prepares for her wedding in 1981, she takes an interested in the story of Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the Prince Regent in the early 1800s who died young. The novel switches between the tale of Diana and that of Charlotte, building on themes of love, marriage, and the struggles of royal life across the centuries. A compelling read, although I'll admit to being partial to the parts focused on Charlotte.… (més)

I, like most, am fascinated with the story of Princess Diana, so I grabbed this book. The picture alone led me to believe this would be more about Diana and her becoming Royal, the write up seemed to favor this also. Unfortunately, most of this this book fell flat to me…the saving grace was the story of Princess Charlotte.

For me, I found the character of Diana very one dimensional; shallow, immature, self centered and most of all troubled. What was written here was the same as we’ve all seen, but did not put Diana in a favorable or likable light. Yet, I felt so sorry for this young woman portrayed - left alone with no one to talk to, brought into a world that she was not equipped to handle, taken away from her friends, the loss of her privacy. Conflicting emotions most definitely.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of little known (at least to me) Princess Charlotte. A princess whose life has so many parallels to Diana. She comes across as more likable, more real, dealing with her problems head on and finally taking control of her life. Their endings are similar, tragic. Both had one dream fulfilled and one out of reach.

The writing was well done…drawing me in immediately. I just felt like it could have been marketed differently…especially the cover.

Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.… (més)