Battle of Brothers

William and Harry – The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult

By: Robert Lacey

Narrated by: Tim Frances

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's summary

A New York Times best seller

From best-selling author and historical consultant to the award-winning Netflix series The Crown, an unparalleled insider account of tumult, secrecy, and schism in the royal family.

The world has watched Prince William and Prince Harry since they were born. Raised by Princess Diana to be the closest of brothers, how have the boy princes grown into very different, now distanced men? From royal insider, biographer, and historian Robert Lacey, this book reveals the untold details of William and Harry’s closeness and estrangement, asking what happens when two sons are raised for vastly different futures - one burdened with the responsibility of one day becoming king, the other with the knowledge that he will always remain spare.

How have William and Harry both agreed and diverged in their views of what a modern royal owes to their country? Were the seeds of damage sowed by Prince Charles and Princess Diana as their marriage unraveled for all the world to see? In the previous generation, how have Prince Charles and Prince Andrew’s own relations strained under the crown? What role has Queen Elizabeth II played in marshaling her feuding heirs? What parts have Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle played in helping their husbands to choose their differing paths? And what is the real, unvarnished story behind Harry and Meghan’s dramatic departure?

In the most intimate vision yet of life behind closed doors, with its highs, lows, and discretions all laid out, this is a journey into royal life as never offered before.

©2020 Robert Lacey (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Enjoyable

I learned a little more about the royal family. The first few chapters, though, feel like “filler” chapters of information about the royal family that has already been know .

Too much royal

Not enough about the brothers. Specifically, the one everyone likes, Harry. It was filled with too much boring royal info.

Rich With History

A beautifully written book that comes across deep in history from a writer who seems non bias when it comes to any Royal Family member. It’s fact based and respectful while short on sensationalism.

Decent, aside from descriptions of America

The author doesn’t know simple facts, like that one cannot get into even the lowest feeder college, much less any baccalaureate university, without lengthy, proven, consistent volunteer and community service, as well as leading school clubs, having excellent grades, and doing sport. The people he describes as extraordinary examples of American drive are supposed to be so despite descriptions that put them solidly in the lower ranks of any averagely driven American citizen. There are no “blue collar workers” in the “blue collar” neighborhoods he describes, except during the day when they’re working there. Everywhere described as “middle-class” is WITHIN California: meaning, millionaires, not billionaires. Those neighborhoods are not “middle las America,” But “middle lads California.” Incredibly disappointing on the American research, and I truly hope The Crown will employ more American researchers now that we have modern Americans in the Firm. Although, I canceled my Netflix, so I don’t care.

The American accents by the narrator are also dreadful, and he should have been replaced. There are no Southern Americans described, and yet the accent is a thick drawl.

Where the book SHINES (not including Americanisms, where the author has no cultural ability to do the following) is in saying, “Here are the two of three recounted versions of X event. We can be sure that neither the most glowing nor the most vicious is true, but that the story in the middle is the most likely historical event, seasoned with a touch of elements of all three tellings.” And then does not say which elements those may be. THAT is being a responsible historian.

This is the best book on the young Royals so far, if you can put aside the woeful inaccuracies of regarding the Yanks.

Love this book.

Loved this book. Never boring. Finished quicker than most I've listened to so far. Would recommend.

Overly Sussex sympathy in this book.

It was pretty good but I feel it skewed a bit too sympathetic for Harry and Meghan, but hindsight is 20/20 and this book was done before the Oprah interview so I guess maybe that is why. The narration was good. I didn't really learn any juicy info that wasn't unknown.

This is my favorite Royals book and I’ve read them all

I have a website dedicated to Princess Diana - ToDiForDaily - I preordered this book weeks ago and then had to wait after it was released earlier in the UK. So worth the wait. So interesting. So honest. He makes so many good points about the poor PR decisions that have been made in the past. Oh, and I finished it in a single day! That’s how much I enjoyed it. I will listen to this again.

Thorough & unbiased

I read the “Finding Freedom” book prior to reading this book and was very disappointed with it. Finding Freedom was such a blatantly biased book with a glowing tale of Harry & Meghan that read like a marketing piece by a PR firm. Battle of Brothers, however, was refreshingly unbiased and gave great insight into the lives of the royal family. I learned a great deal, especially considering I just read a book that should have enlightened me fully and did not. The voice of the narrator was also very pleasant. I would highly recommend this book.

Excellent unbiased story

After reading finding freedom which I thought was biased, this book was refreshing and gave a glimpse into the Royal Family. It is sad that Harry and Meghan hadn’t approached how they were presenting what they wanted and used more tact. I think a lot of the problems comes from the age of Harry and Meghan and not respecting the Royal Heritage and why it is so important.

Royal brothers sad

I enjoyed this book and learned something’s that I didn’t know and some behind the scenes details that help me to understand the rift and the how events rolled out. How Harry & Megan came to their decision. British press is merciless to all in royal family except maybe the queen. It’s a shameful thing.