The Diana Chronicles

Tina Brown's long-awaited biography of Princess Diana is read by the author—a British legend in her own right. Brown's recital is colorful but limited by her rushed, occasionally slurred delivery, which detracts from her prose. The abridged version of the book hits the high notes of this lengthy bio, offering a condensed but worthwhile version of Diana's journey toward British royalty and her eventual tragic end. But as a reader, Brown hurries through even this shorter version, occasionally dropping syllables or speeding through phrases that are thus nearly incomprehensible. On other occasions, she carefully enunciates each syllable, emphasizing her British diction but rendering her reading more actress performance than nuanced reading. Simultaneous release with the Doubleday hardcover (reviewed online). (Aug.)