{"product_id":"three-times-a-countess-9780349134833","title":"Three Times a Countess","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTELEGRAPH\u003c\/i\u003e 50 BEST BOOKS OF 2022\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE UNTOLD STORY OF PRINCESS DIANA''S STEPMOTHER\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ''A sparkling biography of a fascinating woman'' - Lynn Barber, \u003ci\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/i\u003e *****\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ''Gaudoin''s book is revealing and hugely entertaining. Highly recommended.'' - \u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e''Gaudoin tells these delicious stories with brio'' - \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Debutante of the year. Able politician. Femme fatale. Just some of the many labels attached to the irrepressible, controversial Raine Spencer: Countess, socialite and stepmother to Diana, Princess of Wales. But who was the real Raine? What was hidden behind the immaculately manicured public façade and her overwhelmingly negative tabloid image?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e From her childhood days as daughter of romantic novelist powerhouse, Barbara Cartland, to Westminster councillor and wife of Earl Spencer, \u003ci\u003eThree Times a Countess\u003c\/i\u003e recounts Raine''s compelling and glamorous life, revealing her to be a powerful, accomplished woman who, after a tumultuous relationship, reconciled with Diana to become the Princess''s closest confidante and a key witness at the inquest into her death.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To her friends, Raine was shrewd, intelligent, witty and loyal; to her enemies, pushy, overly flamboyant and ruthless. From a career spanning local politics to dealing with the fortunes of Althorp; from taking on the Spencer family estate to her final role as a board member at Harrods, Raine''s life was, by any standards, a success . Yet she could not sway the powerful media narrative which pitted her as ''the evil stepmother'' at every turn. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A societal whirl of London Seasons, family feuds, politics, pomp and ''big hair'', Gaudoin''s vibrant history of the Countess sets the record straight once and for all, drawing insight from those who knew Raine most. \u003ci\u003eThree Times a Countess\u003c\/i\u003e reveals a sophisticated, determined woman whose loyalty knew no bounds and whose cache of secrets would have worried even the most upright of royals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn excellent book about a difficult, but life-enhancing woman -- Julian Fellowes\u003cbr\u003eEnthralling -- Nicholas Coleridge\u003cbr\u003ePerceptively examines the life of one of the twentieth century's original \"tough, ambitious women\" -- Lindy Woodhead\u003cbr\u003eWonderful. A great friend brought vividly back to life. -- Lady Glenconner\u003cbr\u003eA sparkling biography of a fascinating woman. ***** -- Lynn Barber * Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003eGaudoin's book is revealing and hugely entertaining. Highly recommended. * Daily Mail, *Royal Books of the Year* *\u003cbr\u003eDelicious * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003eThis book is a vindication, both of Raine herself and of a type of person - of woman - whom it became uncool to value * TLS *\u003cbr\u003eGaudoin elegantly depicts the esoteric life of an aristocrat * Observer *\u003cbr\u003eTina Gaudoin sets out to rehabilitate Raine as a far more nuanced woman, an insouciant, sexy survivor uncredited for her many achievements . . . A colourful life. * The Times *\u003cbr\u003eI lapped up this tale of London seasons, family feuds, politics, big hair and Raine's carpe diem attitude * Gloss *","brand":"Little, Brown Book Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48733654548823,"sku":"9780349134833","price":11.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780349134833.jpg?v=1720001049","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/three-times-a-countess-9780349134833","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}