Untold Story

A Novel

By: Monica Ali

Narrated by: Emma Fielding, Nicholas Farrell

The New York Times bestseller from one of the most versatile and bold writers of our time—“an astonishing, tightly structured, and lyrically told” novel (People) inspired by Princess Diana.

What if Princess Diana hadn’t died? Diana’s life and marriage were fairy tale and nightmare rolled into one. Adored by millions, in her personal life she suffered rejection, heartbreak, and betrayal. Surrounded by glamour and glitz and the constant attention of the press, she fought to carve a meaningful role for herself in helping the needy and dispossessed. Had she lived, what direction would her life have taken? How would she have matured into her forties and beyond?

Untold Story is about the nature of celebrity, the meaning of identity, and finding one’s place in the world. Like Diana, the fictional heroine of this novel is both icon and iconoclast. She touches many millions of lives and hearts around the world, sharing the details of her troubled marriage and her eating disorder, and reaching out as has no other royal before her. But she is troubled and on the brink of disaster. Will she ever find peace and happiness, or will the curse of fame be too great?

I wanted to love it.......

I really, really wanted to love this book. I was so excited about it. I purchased it rather than wait for my next credits to become available because I was going on vacation. I thought it would make great airplane/leisurely listening time. It was all just OK. The other characters, the American friends, are as someone else said "cliched". The narrators are OK. Not the best, not the worst. I think it ended in a way that another book is possible. Maybe that one will be a bit more..... lively....is that the word I'm looking for? Did I mention it is just OK?

I loved this book!!

What do any of us really know about celebrities?...they are just people, too, after all. This book was great as it gave me a sense of how horrible the photojournalists are to the rich and famous. I am glad I am just an average joe blow....Intriguing story and not once will you ever hear an exact reference to the person this book is about....clever story, I thought!!

Great Premise, So-So Book

Monica Ali begins with a fascinating premise: that the Princess of Wales, with the help of a devoted aide, planned her own demise/disappearance, underwent plastic surgery in Brazil, assumed the identity of a British-American crib death victim, and went on to live a life of obscurity in the USA, working in an animal rescue facility. By coincidence, a photographer who spent years pursuing her comes to town . . .

While Untold Story isn't a total failure, it's less than I expected from Ali. For those still entranced by Diana and her sad story, Lydia's letters to Lawrence expressing her fears, joys, and regrets bring it all back. But too often I felt as if I was in the midst of a chick lit story populated by clich??ed characters carrying on clich??d conversations. In other words, both the story and the characters lacked complexity. If you're a Diana fan, give this book a try; but if you're hoping for something as fine as Brick Lane, skip it.

As to the readers, Nicholas Farrell is wonderful. Emma Fielding is good enough as Lydia, but her American accents get quite irritating after awhile.

Diana Lives On

Went beyond the headlines of the 80s and 90s. Imagined the strong character of a lonely Princess.

interesting theory

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

found the idea interesting so story flowed easily. a "what if..." fairytale. Makes you really appreciate how restricting royals daily life truly is.

Who was your favorite character and why?

lydia. you could feel her internal struggle