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Shortly after learning of Princess Diana's death in a car crash on August 31, 1997, Mary Robertson was inspired to document her memories of the princess in order to balance the "mean-spirited and critical comments about her in the media coverage and certain books." The Diana Robertson first knew was an unassuming teenager who patiently and diligently cared for Robertson's young son two days a week in 1980. Robertson recalls Diana in detail, describing her first impression: "She was lovely, with perfect English skin, a slight blush on her cheeks, and clear blue eyes.... She looked just like the suburban teenagers I had known in America, only ever so much prettier." She then shares the milestones of her relationship with the future princess--accidentally discovering Diana's lineage, being told by Diana of her burgeoning relationship with Prince Charles, dodging reporters together outside the Robertson home, attending the "wedding of the century," visiting the princess and her sons at Kensington Palace, and, finally, attending the princess's funeral. Robertson's flattering depiction of Diana as a caring woman whose humility belied her background rings true even if the information the writer reveals about her own life is at times unnecessary and excessive.
Book Description
In 1980, Mary Robertson, an American living in London, welcomed a shy young nanny into her home to care for her nine-month-old son. Little did she know that this was the beginning of an extraordinary friendship that would last for seventeen years. She was surprised to learn that the nanny was Lady Diana Spencer, who would later become Diana, Princess of Wales, the most celebrated woman of our time.
In The Diana I knew, Mary portrays a gentle, unassuming teenager who blossomed into an assured, world-class beauty. She describes a private side to a woman few people knew intimately. This is an American woman's personal account of her unexpected and touching friendship with Diana.
Mary's unique memories of this remarkable woman include Diana's nonchalant reaction to Mary's discovery of her nanny's aristocratic background and the day-to-day building of a trusting, affectionate relationship which developed into a true friendship. As Diana's life dramatically changed when the royal courtship began, she turned to Mary for guidance. Even after the Robertsons returned to the United States just before the engagement, Diana wrote frequently, wishing to continue the friendship.
From receiving the gilt-edged invitations to the Royal Wedding to being charmed by Prince Charles at the glamorous pre-nuptial ball at Buckinham Palace, Mary captures the magic of the wedding of the century. Despite the unimaginable demands of her life and the unraveling of the fairy tale, Diana made time to see Mary and her family. From the Robertsons' private meeting with the Prince and Princess in Washington to an intimate family luncheon at her home in Kensington Palace, Diana's generosity of spirit and appreciation of simpler times always shone through.
The Diana who emerges in this book is a committed and sincere woman who "loathed formality," a radiant and exuberant princess who had "little use for the upper classes" and someone who felt at home with "ordinary people."
From the profound tragedy of Diana's death and the heartbreak of her funeral, Mary transforms her grief into this eloquent tribute to her beloved friend Diana, the Princess of Wales.
The author will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book to charities supported by the Princess.
Customer Reviews:
The Diana before She Became Famous.......2007-07-16
Mary Robertson tells of a Diana that could have been one of our daughters or the girl next door who babysat for us. She explained several incidents, such as Diana eating out of their refridgerator that were so human. One wanted to reach inside the book, pull out Diana, and hug her. The way she opened up to the Robertsons is detailed and the pictures are so special. Mary Robertson writes as she knew Diana; she doesn't brag about knowing the Princess, but truly explains "The Diana She Knew." Highly recommended-definately one of my most favorite Diana books because the author is not intending to capitalize or sensationalize.
One of the Better Diana Books.......2005-12-21
I wanted to read this book for the longest but it was unavailable. I finally bought it used through Amazon.
I was not disappointed! A truly readable and enjoyable book. Diana often was dismissed by critics as a shallow, self-serving woman who only "cared" about people when the cameras and press were recording an event.
Mrs. Robertson refuted this often repeated attack of Diana's character by showing us that behind the scenes and away from the press, Diana continued a warm friendship with this American woman and her family. A common family who could in no way further Diana's reportedly selfish agenda.
Why?
The only explanation is that Diana truly was a very warm and caring person. The book captures that simple quality of Diana.
Many books have been written to show the world what the real Diana was supposedly like.
These books deride fans for believing in a media image of Diana and have attacked Diana's every move.
Mrs. Robertson knew the "real" Diana and her memories are refreshing, honest and much in tune with Diana's worldwide image.
Mrs. Robertson's friendship with the Princess of Wales was not based on a phony media image.
Thank you Mrs. Robertson for writing this book and showing us the lovely "inner" Diana.
Diana proved it was possible to be warm, unpretentious, radiant AND royal.
Wonderful book.......2005-06-15
I bought this book as soon as it came into the shops and have read it so many times. It is good to read Mary's account of her relationship with Diana. One of the most readable books I have ever read. I wonder if Mary has written other books?
not the best of the pack but an interesting little book.......2002-11-26
I guess that I'd have to give this book about 3 1/2 stars if I could do that, it's an interesting little book to read. Written by Mary Robertson, the American woman who once employed Diana as a nanny, it isn't nearly as bad as some critics would suggest.The book starts with an Aug 31-Sept 6th recap of learning about Diana's death and attending the funeral, in the next chapter and for most of the book details Robertson's experiences over the years with the Princess. While Mrs. Robertson does talk about herself (not particularly boastfully)she tells a lot of harmless little details about Diana, various meetings & so on, that you just don't see elsewhere. I wouldn't put it at the top of your list of books to accquire but it makes a nice little addition.
A Definitive Diana Book.......2001-01-08
I've read most of the Diana books on the market, and this one is my all time favorite. The warmth, candor, and respect that Mrs. Robertson uses in describing her ongoing relationship with the late former Princess of Wales is refreshing (who else treats Diana with dignity anymore, anyway?), well paced (I can stay into it, even on the treadmill), and wholly respectable (staying exclusively in the realm of what Mrs. Robertson herself saw, learned, or experienced, and not crossing the line into lurid speculation, armchair psychology, or maudlin reflection). This is an idea purchase or gift with anyone having an interest in Diana, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly as a sweet (I know it's an overused word, but it's the RIGHT word) tribute to the relationship from one mother to another and their friendship which spanned 17 years.
Book Description
Knute Rockne: A Portrait of a Notre Dame Legend presents the fruits of Steele's interest in and research about the life and times of Knute Rockne. Based on research and writing conducted over the last twenty years, the book includes: game by game accounts of Rockne's playing and coaching careers, interviews with former players, family and professional photographs--including new material found in Norway, photos of artifacts and memorabilia, team and season records, player personnel, and a full consideration of the relationship of Rockne with George Gipp--one of the most fascinating stories in the annals of American sports. For readers who love sports, college football, and Notre Dame, this book will provide keen insights into the man and the myth, and detail a pictorial history unsurpasses by any other book.
Customer Reviews:
A PLEASANT JOURNEY THROUGH ROCKNE'S LIFE.......1999-09-13
Michael Steele has been doing books on Notre Dame football for many years. Some, like Rockne: A Bio-Bibliography (1983) are very detailed, but most, especially this book, are more in the coffee table genre. But that's o.k. because Steele is modest about his books, and makes no special claims for them.
The photos in this book are excellent and not only include many of Rockne at various stages of his life, but also of his famous players. Steele also includes pictures of many important sites in Rockne's life, and even some diagrams of plays.
The text moves swiftly through the famous coach's life and career. On occasion, Steele repeats an old and questionable chestnut, but for the most part, he gives straight-forward game-by-game details. The final section of the book contains long interviews with a number of men who played for Rockne and/or were students at Notre Dame in the 1920s. Since all of these men have since died, the interviews are often poignant, even if they are more nostalgic than truly informative.
If you are looking for a deeply researched and footnoted biography of Knute Rockne, this is not the book for you. However, if you want a pleasant journey through the coach's life, take this trip with Michael Steele.
Professor Murray Sperber, Author of Shake Down the Thunder (1993), and Onward to Victory (1998).
Average customer rating:
- Memoir and Memory
- Movie Memories and More!
- He loved The Wiz?
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Widescreen Dreams: Growing Up Gay at the Movies (Living Out: Gay and Lesbian Autobiographies, Joan Larkin and David Bergman, Series Editors)
Patrick E. Horrigan
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
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General
| Biographies & Memoirs
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Gay
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Gay & Lesbian
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| Biographies & Memoirs
| Gay & Lesbian
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| Gay & Lesbian
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ASIN: 0299161641 |
Book Description
FIRST PAPERBACK EDITION
In 1973, a sweet-tempered, ferociously imaginative ten-year-old boy named Patrick Horrigan saw the TV premiere of the film version of Hello, Dolly! starring Barbra Streisand. His life would never be the same. Widescreen Dreams: Growing Up Gay at the Movies traces Horrigan's development from childhood to gay male adulthood through a series of visceral encounters with an unexpected handful of Hollywood movies from the 1960s and 1970s: Hello Dolly!, The Sound of Music, The Poseidon Adventure, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Wiz.
Customer Reviews:
Memoir and Memory.......2007-05-02
Horrigan, Patrick E, "Widescreen Dreams: Growing Up Gay at the Movies" University of Wisconsin Press,
1999.
Memoir and Memory
Amos Lassen and Literary Pride
Patrick Horrigan experimented by bringing his autobiography and cultural studies together in "Widescreen Dreams". The result is a very successful and readable book. He uses his critical writings on film as a way to tell us the story of his life and his coming out as a gay male. In five chapters, each of which is centered on a movie, we learn about his family and his own personal maturation. It's a strange handful of movies but they obviously influenced his growth.
Horrigan was born in 1963 and as a child became a Barbra Streisand devotee which may explain why he devotes a chapter to "Hello Dolly", a major flop for Babs and her studio and career. The other movies that he uses in his memoir are "The Sound of Music" (of course), "The Poseidon Adventure" (Shelley Winters swims), "The Wiz" ("The Wiz"?), and "Dog Day Afternoon" (a classic). As he goes into great detail in describing scenes from the films, he interweaves stories from his own life as well as snippets of the fantasies these films inspired in him. We do not get a really good look at his life but we do get some interesting and fun reading. To him "The Poseidon Adventure" is a metaphor for gays to come out (or drown?) and he daydreams of how different his life might have been if he had become a movie star (not an actor but a star) instead of a college professor.
Although not very deep, the book is filled with memory and criticism of society and culture as well as family gossip. Horrigan's personal stories illustrate the closeness of film and the imagination--after all, movies are the stuff fantasies are made of and derived from.
As a boy, he was captured by the movies and he takes us down the yellow brick road of Hollywood, stopping along the way to bring his own life into the journey. We learn about his large Catholic family and how he accepts himself as a gay male and as I read his book I found myself thinking about my own life in terms of the movies I have seen. I also had several good laughs. The memories that "Widescreen Dreams" brought to me were those I had tucked away or simply forgotten.
As for the movies Horrigan chose, I am pretty sure I have better choices but this is his book and his life so who am I to argue? I loved the way Horrigan approached growing up and coming out gay. I wonder if Streisand knows how much she helped recruit members to our community.
You will not learn a lot from this book but you will have a touching and insightful reading experience as Horrigan brings light to the strong relationship between film and imagination.
Movie Memories and More!.......2000-12-19
This book gives enjoyable insight into the mind of a boy who was captured in the journey that cinema can take us on. He reveals quite well his child perspective and the impact films like The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly, The Wiz, and The Poseidon Adventure had on him. You get to travel through Patrick's recollections not only of film experiences but also of his large Catholic family, his self embrace of being gay and his dating interactions as a gay young man. I often found myself recalling my own childhood memories of cinematic impressions, relating to my early identity as a gay male, and I often found my self laughing out loud. Though it's a book of Patrick's history, it touches off sparks of memories that we all have in common and unknowingly share. It transports the reader to their own childhood memories which is a gift to any reader and the work of a skillful writer.
He loved The Wiz?.......2000-06-11
I enjoyed this book despite myself. The author just LOVED some really wretched movies - The Wiz shaped his life? However, his tales of growing up gay in a Catholic family in Reading, PA are interesting and evocative. A fun little diversion for those of us who grew up more into theatre, movies, and glamor than sports and girls.
Average customer rating:
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The Annals of the Metropolitan Opera
Manufacturer: MacMillan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Opera
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
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ASIN: 081617377X |
Average customer rating:
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METROPOLITAN OPERA ANNALS
Manufacturer: H. W. Wilson Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H6HOCE |
Book Description
This how-to guide is ideal for musicians who are new to the complexities of digital recording, as well as for those who want to keep up with the fast-changing technology. Providing detailed guidance on using hard disk and DAT technologies, stand-alone workstations, computer-based DAWs, surround sound 5.1 and more, plus related hardware and software-based tools such as Softsynths, plug-ins and software samplers, this book also surveys two-track audio recorders/editors, host-based audio/MIDI programs and CD mastering. Its analysis of emerging technology helps readers make informed decisions for creating and operating a cost-effective, professional-level digital studio at home.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent read.......2006-08-18
The editor does an excellent job of assembling an informative collection of previously written works. An easy straight read.
Great Book To Learn The Basic Of Digital Recording.......2006-01-18
This book is what the doctor ordered when it comes to the Ins and Outs of Computer Based Digital Recording, it'll show you how to understand the Hardware and Software needed to make it all work on your musical projects, A must have for newbies to this confusion world of Digital Music. I like to Thank the Author for this no-nonsense approach to the basics.
Customer Reviews:
Useful Resource.......2003-01-28
This book is an excellent starting place for those interested in improving the sound quality of their listening room. The fundmentals of sound are presented in the context of a typical home listening room or small studio. Methods to control resonance, isolate exterior noise sources and to diffuse and trap source music sound are discussed, with examples of the construstion of devices within the capability of many moderately skilled homeowners. I have successfully applied a few of these ideas into my home listening room.
Book Description
A proven program for organizational change, illustrated with real-life examples from companies and community groups
Customer Reviews:
Appreciative Inquiry process.......2006-09-28
This is an excellent book describing the theory and research about the foundation of Appreciative Inquiry and also a practical guide to facilitating groups in using it. It provides an outline and details on each meeting with steps and stories to illustrate the concepts. I have used it in working with non profit groups and people become very excited about the process.
Cutting Edge Approach.......2004-01-07
I found this book to be compelling. The authors offer the "Evolution of Thought on Managing Change" in the first chapter that suggests that today "Everyone innovates for extraordinary performance." Those companies/organizations and leaders that choose to accept this to be fact, should familiarize themselves with Appreciative Inquiry. And, for those looking for the "how-to" book to accomplish AI within their organizations on a grand scale, this is the textbook that fills that need.
A good and detailed guide to AI.......2003-10-05
Appreciative Inquiry is an increasingly popular technique within the wider family of interventions designed to bring about change through cooperation across a whole system, working with a large group of people. Its distinguishing feature is the emphasis on the positive - what is good about the present and offers potential for the future, what aspirations there are for the future, how do we design such a future and what are the concrete steps to start bringing it about.
This book goes into great detail on the rationale for the approach and the step by step activities required to move through the process. It is a well set-out and thorough guide for practitioners.
For a guide to the range of techniques available and a comparison between them, refer to Napuk and Palmer: The Large Group Facilitator's Manual or Bunker and Alban: Large Group Interventions.
AI Summit Practitioner's Guide.......2003-09-30
This is an inspiring work at the confluence of idealism and practicality. It is a reference source relevant to the experienced practitioner and a great learning resource for one who wants to learn more about appreciative inquiry. Interweaving compelling stories, the authors provide an informative set of tools and guides. I was able to use information in the sample participant guide the same day the book arrived.
Amazing practical how-to guide on AI Summits.......2003-09-06
This book is a very practical step-by-step guide to conducting an AI summit. What I especially appreciated was how the book combines the great experiences and expertise of the authors and will be useful for the AI novice practitioner as well as for the very experienced AI OD consultant. It provides great examples of summit materials. It is a well written book that can be read and reread and used as the Summit bible for years to come.
Books:
- The Diana Years(Commemorative Edition)
- The Diaries of Lady Anne Clifford
- The Diaries of Lady Anne Clifford
- The Duchess of Windsor: The Secret Life
- The Earliest English Kings
- The Empress of Farewells: The Story of Charlotte, Empress of Mexico
- The Empress Theodora: Partner of Justinian
- The End of the House of Lancaster
- The First Lady Diana: The Life of Lady Diana Spencer, 1710-1735
- The Home Place: Life in Rural Prince Edward Island in the 1920s and 30s
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