Spare
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- $24.99
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- $24.99
Publisher Description
It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow-and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling-and how their lives would play out from that point on.
For Harry, this is that story at last.
Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness-and, because he blamed the press for his mother's death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.
At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn't find true love.
Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple's cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, 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. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother. . . .
For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Sibling rivalry, fatherly neglect, and the crushing weight of public opinion haunt this anguished, searching, and occasionally vindictive memoir from Prince Harry. Framing the narrative as an attempt to explain why he and his wife, Meghan Markle, fled the U.K. "in fear for our sanity and physical safety" in 2020, Harry begins with Princess Diana's death in 1997, recounting how he and his brother William were made to walk behind their mother's coffin "to garner sympathy." For years afterward, Harry harbored a belief that Diana had disappeared to escape the paparazzi—an illusion that enabled him "to postpone the bulk of my grief." Made to feel like a "nullity" by his family, he found solace and companionship on safari trips to Africa and boozy nights with friends, but the tabloids turned "basic teenage stuff" into allegations of drug addiction and his father chose "to play ball" rather than fight back. Time and time again, the twin pressures of the royal family and the British media scuttled Harry's search for meaning and purpose, leaving him beset by panic attacks and self-doubt, until he met Meghan—and then those same specters turned on her. The mix of dirty laundry and earnest soul-baring sometimes jars, but Harry's frustrations are deeply felt and authentically conveyed, as is the joy he takes in nature and in his friendships. This royal family tell-all delivers.
Customer Reviews
Spare
I did have preconceived notions thinking that I wouldn’t feel it was honest and I couldn’t have been more wrong. If you can get past the beginning (which feels different to the rest) it felt like a true and honest telling of Harry’s life. I never believed most of what the press said but had no idea how vindictive the press could be. I thought the word spare meant he felt sorry for himself and envious but it was nothing like that at all. I hope Harry and Megan have found a measure of peace now and wish them well. Another follow up book would be good in 30 years lol. Their family is welcome at my place in Australia any time xoxo
Poor excuse of a man.
Highly disturbed and self-victimised individual with mom and dad issues, who blames everyone around him for his hurt feelings.
This book has some pretty intimate moments that should under no circumstances be talked about to a public. Instead of protecting his family in public eye, this poor excuse of a man is airing his family’s dirty laundry.
I feel truly disappointed and disgusted with both this book and Harry. Particularly, when I think about the late Queen, his grandmother, who at 21y swore to dedicate her life to serving her people. How ironic, a guy who seeks privacy and can’t stand reading writes a book ..
Fake news
Extremely sympathetic towards the pair of them. They can apparently do no wrong and are the most altruistic humans to have walked the earth.
A fairytale perspective told by a man-child.