Diana's Story

by Deric Longden

Book Overview

The story of the last years of Diana Longden, wife of broadcaster Deric Longden. In 1982 Diana contracted ME, a condition which meant years of pain and paralysis that ended in death. Throughout her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0552139440
• ISBN13: 9780552139441
• Release Date: August 1993
• Publisher: Transworld Publishers
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

One of the best books i ever read!

Deric Longden's "Diana's Story" must undoutably be one of the best books i ever read. His ability to find humour in day to day life whilst coping with his wifes debilitating illness makes this book an absolute joy to read. I also love this book for it mentions how Deric's mother linked Diana's illness to polio that she had as a little girl. Years ago the link between M.E. and polio was unheard of; it is only in recent years there has been thought to be a link. My advice is just read it!!

No, this is NOT about Princess Diana.

In a later book Longden records that a woman assaulted him at a book-signing for this book, believing that he was James Hewitt, and the book was about the Princess of Wales. It is not. This anecdote highlights Longden's eye and ear for the small nuances of trivia and life that so often are forgotten, but which are so true and funny that we ought to remember them more often. When people deride Longden for making comic novels about his family's sufferings, I cannot but feel sorry for them. Diana's Story is a very warm book, full of the human touch and a great sense of humour, full of love and soul. It could so easily be an angry and embittered novel which would please the critics and anyone with literary pretensions, a searing attack upon the medical services who failed to recognise his wife's ME, but although it is full of anger and sorrow, it is also full of humour and love. Diana's refusal to be ground down by her demeaning and agonising illness is an inspiration to us all. Her warmth and humour shine through, despite her suffering and agony, as does that of her husband, who wrote the story. We laugh and cry simultaneously, the wit and the pathos so exquisitely blended that our feelings are exercised well and truly. It is a beautiful book, both laugh-out-loud funny, and fantastically sad, and should be an inspiration to anybody who reads it. Books about sickness and death don't have to be morbid and dark. They can be funny without compromising their power to move us.

An emotional roller-coaster - excellent reading.

My copy was sent to me by my mother from England, and its already traveled to Mexico and back too. A joy to read. Sometimes I laughed so hard I nearly fell off my chair, other times I cried - something I have never done with a book before. I got homesick when references were made to some of my favorite Britsh snacks. I wish every ill person could be blessed with Diana's sense of humor, and the wonderful husband she had. I wish Longden's books were more easily available in Florida.