THE DIANA CHRONICLES

"August 31, 1997." Tina Brown opens her intimate, gossipy, scandalous, and sad biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, "the most famous woman in the world," with the end of her life. Brown, a former editor of VANITY FAIR and THE NEW YORKER, paints a rich and colorful portrait of an icon who eventually becomes a caricature of herself. But as narrator, Brown isn't up to the formidable task of delivering the fascinating melodrama with enough skill to capture her listeners. She slogs through Diana's early years in a dull, slurring voice that often blurs her words and then suddenly builds to a speed that rushes important events. She finally hits her stride (unfortunately, too late) with a moving, genuinely emotional climax. M.T.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 08]