From Publishers Weekly
The tributes to the life and career of Lady Diana continue with this lavish production, authorized by her estate and Memorial Fund. Coming as it does with that seal of approval, it should be no surprise to readers that this large, glossy book is tasteful and keenly decorous. It’s also rich with photos from just about every one of Diana’s 36 years. Many images and testimonies will be familiar to her fans but some——particularly the ones depicting her early years dancing and swimming, attending boarding school and working at her first job—have never been published. Unfortunately, Coward doesn’t pair the pictures with captions, so if one isn’t familiar with every detail of Princess Diana’s history, it can be frustrating to try to decipher what the images show. The text relies primarily on interviews with those who knew (or even briefly encountered) the princess, from photographers to lawyers, fashion designers to fellow aid workers. Predictably, they all speak reverentially of her, but the extensive quotations set the book apart from many Diana biographies and show just how far her influence extended ("All the landmine stuff was jolly brave," says Sandy Gall of Afghanistan Appeal; "She made me more nervous than many military opponents," reflects Colin Powell, who led her to the dance floor at a charity gala for cancer). Coward is careful to show numerous facets of her subject, though the theme of Diana’s extensive humanitarian work dominates, while difficulties in her personal life are downplayed. If at times overly worshipful, the book is nonetheless a lovely compilation and a fitting continuation of Diana’s legacy, as the book’s net royalties will be donated to projects supported by her Memorial Fund.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description
The tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales, shook the world. No one who lived through those days in the late summer of 1997 will ever forget the unprecedented outpourings of grief, shock, and anger that followed. And in the days leading up to her funeral, it seemed as if the whole of humanity had spontaneously united to mourn her loss.But who was this young woman who had come to symbolize so much to so many? How was it that she could reach out to touch lives not only of whole communities but individuals, too? What lay behind her inspiration-and what will be the lasting impact of her legacy? No book yet written about Diana has come close to the person so many people speak of as having been a beacon of light in their lives. Here, for the first time, is the Diana that many of those closest to her knew. Written with the full cooperation of the late princess's estate, Diana: The Portrait tells Diana's story through her own words and the words of people, both famous, and, until now, unknown. Beautifully designed, it is a lavishly illustrated with nearly 500 images of Diana, including many pictures never previously published, taken from sources including the Spencer family archive, the Althorp Museum, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund archive, and the private collections of the friends, charities, and individuals whose lives she touched. Drawing on over 200 original interviews, including those of family members and friends, many of whom have never spoken before, this remarkable book will stand as a unique and lasting testament to the life and work of one of the extraordinary and enduring icons of the 20th century.

About the Author
Rosalind Coward is the author of numerous books, including Sacred Cows, Female Desire, The Whole Truth, and Our Treacherous Hearts. A freelance writer, she pens a popular weekly column for the UK's daily newspaper The Guardian.PQ Publishers Ltd. is a privately owned publisher and licensing company based in New Zealand. PQ is dedicated to the development of large-scale illustrated book projects and associated brands.

FROM THE PUBLISHER