by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Random House, 2023. 410 pages. Biography
Before losing his mother Princess Diana, Harry was the carefree Spare to the serious Heir. Grief changed everything: he struggled at school and in the spotlight. Military service gave him structure – as well as post-traumatic stress and crippling panic attacks. The world was swept away by his romance with Meghan and their fairy-tale wedding, but from the beginning, they were subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. For the first time, Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty.
I know I kinda missed the trend with this one; it was really big when it first came out, and then slipped into quiet obscurity. However, maybe it worked out okay to read this when I did, precisely because I could view it more objectively without the hubbub. I enjoyed learning the behind-the-scenes peek at the British Royal Family and their relationship with the press, and my heart broke to hear of how Harry and Meghan were treated. Harry speaks with candor and honesty, giving an honest and raw look at his life thus far. What this was missing was a true purpose: Harry doesn't seem to have a clear call to action or any goal for this work. Instead, it just seems to be him telling his story and what things were like for him. But I suppose that's fine, isn't it.