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

Same book, different title

This book was 80% regurgitated old information and 20% information that could be read on the covers at a newsstand. Nothing new!

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.

snobbish

I can't listen anymore to this book. it just drips of snobbishness and hatred of anything not conservative. the narrator and author clearly have disdain for Harry and especially Meghan.

Ok, but...

Disappointed the author didn't mention how the press bullying of Meghan contributed to them leaving.

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.

Why does this guy abhor Meghan so much?

This book, besides the author coming off as pompous and incredibly biased, is just a long, suffering babble taking everything Meghan has done in her life and skewing it negative. The presumptuous language about what she “thought” and her “intentions” make it obvious that this guy has no idea what Harry or Meghan’s thoughts and intentions are or have ever been. The little bits of the other members of the royal family’s doings sprinkled among the Meghan hate speech make it clear that he has chosen a “side” and wants only to drive that point home. I will be returning this book. I don’t think it’s fair that this author be paid for such a slanderous and petty work.

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.

want Will's petty jealousy of Harry? here it is..

I struggled to stay awake. repeatedly supporting Will, demonizing Harry. Bigot lovers book. royals need to be Shook.

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.

total trash and I enjoyed every minute

trash trash trash and I loved it all. Megs my girl forever. great corona read.