Spare
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4.0 • 95 Ratings
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- $33.99
Publisher Description
Sunday Times Memoir of the Year 2023
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.
'Compellingly artful... a blockbuster memoir' The New Yorker
'The most insightful royal book in a generation' Financial Times
'A rattling page-turner... As a personal insight into one boy's life in an extraordinary spotlight, it may never be better' Sunday Times
©2023 Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex (P)2023 Penguin Audio
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
First off, yes, the tea is scalding. Prince Harry’s explosively personal memoir reveals, among other things, that he has been emotionally and physically bullied by his older brother, William (“the Heir” to Harry’s “Spare”), his entire life. Harry’s emotionally distant Pa—better known as King Charles III—was no help, carrying the baggage of his own rough childhood with him. And then there’s stepmother Camilla, whom Harry flat out accuses of planting stories in the sleazy British tabloids to make herself look good…and he’s got receipts. Happily, though, Spare isn’t just about settling scores. Through his stories and his charming narration, Prince Harry reveals himself to be emotionally open, self-deprecating and madly in love with his wife, Meghan Markle. This is an unblinkingly brave book to have written–easily the deepest look we’ve ever gotten into the British royal family, as well as a dead-honest report of severe personal trauma. For that reason, it’s best heard in Harry’s own voice.
Customer Reviews
Loved it
Contrast to what the media say it is a fabulous book. Really enjoyed it!
A Contradictory Tale
I wanted to like it went with an open mind however every chapter got worse. It was the combination of entitlement and poor recollections that are average everyday mundane activities. Sure there is some facts in there around events in the royal family but the rest is a dull story of a wealthy child growing up with a nanny, going to boarding school and having a career mapped out. Although I agree losing your mother at a young age is tragic and traumatic but there are thousands of people in the world that this happens to today and even more in the past. The book could have been so much more, much more positive about overcoming a parents death, pressure from the media and success, however it’s a poor me book, everyone else is to blame and you can’t help think why is he even writing a book about his private life when in fact his biggest grievances is the intrusive nature of his private life.
Captivating and brilliant
Much has been talked about this book, and it delivers, it really does. I am so pleased I got the Audiobook - read by Prince Harry himself gives so much more gravity and honesty to his side of the story. A must read.