 "Princess Di conspiracy theories smashed to bits!" | 2008-08-28 |
| - Reviewed By ospidillo |
Once you read Trevor Rees-Jones' story about the automobile crash which killed Princess Di, Dodi Fayed, and chauffer of the car, you'll clearly realize that the three died SOLELY as a result of a man, Henri Paul, who was drunk out of his mind and driving like a complete maniac... nothing more -- end of story.
Rees-Jones was employed as the personal bodyguard of Dodi Fayed, and who was a young man not long out of the British military when he took on this job and, whom any parent would be proud to claim as a son. His story is a straight-forward one, absent any of the various bizarre and egregious agendas of others who have attempted to turn this crash into some sort of heinous conspiracy by the paparazzi, and/or the British government, and/or The House of Windsor, to murder the Princess.
I'm no fan of British royalty and there is no doubt whatever that Queen Elizabeth II despised her former daughter-in-law and was totally unmoved (and was perhaps even pleased) by her untimely death; however, as much as conspiracy theorists wish to perpetuate the mythology behind the 31 August 1997 fatal crash, the story of Trevor Rees-Jones (the lone survivor of the crash) stands as a jewel of shining truth which totally explains the event. The primary reason that the crash continues to be controversial even today is due to a tragic and venomous old multi-millionaire, Mohamed Al-Fayed, who lost his son and whom has now made it his life-long quest beyond all other desires to lay the blame on someone other than upon whom it belongs: squarely upon the shoulders of Henri Paul, the alcoholic chauffer whom Mohamed Al-Fayed unfortunately employed without having adequately vetted his personal drinking habits.
Here's a quote from Rees-Jones' fine book which puts this story into clear perspective: "Within two days [after the crash], nine would be named as suspects in the French criminal investigation... at 6:40:59 a.m., two and half [sic] hours after Diana's declared death, the first Diana website went up and, thirteen minutes later the first conspiracy website. Conspiracy theories would eventually rage worldwide on 36,000 websites..." (p. 119).
Rees-Jones details the weeks and days prior to the crash, including the details and circumstances of his employment with the Fayed family. He also reveals, absent any sort of personal venom, how rotten Mohamed Al-Fayed has been concerning this highly-publicized event. It becomes similarly clear that Diana herself was no angel -- as the man who was with the pair 24/7, Rees-Jones was unmistakably in a position to know all the facts and he conveys them as honestly and in such detail as to convince any coherent reader of his own personal integrity and knowledge.
This work is not the page-turner that one might anticipate emerging from such a monumental incident mostly because the author has forsaken the tabloid sensationalism approach in conveying his account. But it becomes quickly clear to the reader that no other person on the planet was in a position to know all the facts and details in regard to the death of Princess Diana.
Highly recommended.
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 "A book to end the conspiracy theories?" | 2007-04-22 |
| - Reviewed By justjack2 |
'The Bodyguard's Story' is ghost written and very readable. It has the intimacy if a biography, a pace befitting the events, and the readable style of novel. Recommended to anyone for a good read, 'The Bodyguard's Story' essential reading for those interested in the events of Diana's death.
As the sole survivor of the crash, the bodyguard's story should be the book to end the conspiracy theories. Its doesn't. First because of the inevitable pre-shock amnesia endured by all crash victims, especially a victim who injuries were so horrific as to bring him close to death. The Bodyguard's Story leaves gaps. Gaps left by the investigation, such as the existence of the Fiat Panda. However 'The Bodyguard's Story' does cover the exhaustive French investigation and accounts for the long period between crash and arrival at hospital for both Diana and 'her' bodyguard.
The book does reveal one fact that is not commonly perceived. The Body guard was not Diana's but for Dodi Al Fayed as employed by his father Mohamed Al Fayed. Diana had no body guard that day.
'The Bodyguard's Story' paints a picture of incompetent security and security officers as worried about instant dismissal by a dictatorial boss, Al Fayed, as they were for the security of their charges. The bodyguard's enduring loyalty to his 'Boss', Al Fayed, leaves a open the possibility, may even appear to suggest, that there were other reasons for the employee's amnesia. The book begs the question as to why Diana put herself at such risk, in the hands of a person known to be at odds with the British government and in a relationship which was bound to be of concern to all.
An intriguing and well written read.
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| "A true account of what happened" | 2004-08-08 |
| - Reviewed By gabrielej |
There is only one person that knows what actually happened before, during and after the horrific accident that left most of the world in shock and disbelief and that is Trevor Rees-Jones.
This was a fascinating look "behind the scenes" of a royal and much beloved figure and a very foolish "commoner". The fault of this accident seems to rest with Dodi making a bunch of unwise decisions that ultimately led to 3 people losing their lives.
A fascinating read, albeit a bit slow in some chapters, but fascinating none the less! |
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| "From the source" | 2004-01-14 |
| - Reviewed By beatles0223 |
| I have always wondered what kind of a person Trevor Rees-Jones was and his book gave an in-depth view of him, personally and professionally . . . in his own words. The saying goes that "truth is stranger than fiction." The truth is also less sensational and colorful than the portrait painted by tabloid hacks and unethical "journalists" the world over. From the start, I didn't think Trevor was trying to cash in on his time with Diana, Princess of Wales. In the foreward, he stated that writing the book (author Moira Johnston helped him write it) was his way of dealing with the situation and moving on with his life. Trevor is an ordinary guy who had a very high profile job. It was because of circumstances on the job (that lead to what Trevor called "an industrial accident") and the fact that he was in a car with the world's most famous woman that has put him center stage for the rest of his life. I felt sorry for the entire Rees-Jones family as diary entry after another explained the turmoil going on inside each of them: His mother and stepfather's struggle to getting Trevor on the road to recovery, the whole family having to deal with the intense media pressure, having Trevor's professionalism called into question by so-called experts (that, in his own words, were not at the Ritz nor in the car), Trevor's having to cope with the fact that he was the only survivor, the family's having to deal with the first overprotective and subsequently vicious hand of Mohammed Al Fayed. The list goes on. I did get mad at, but then later understood, Trevor's wanting to keep his job with Al Fayed. He was the textbook case example of a loyal employee. Unfortunately, Mohammed Al Fayed was (and still is) so hung up on his conspiracy theories that he thought Trevor was lying to him about how much he remembered of the accident. It was only when he (Al Fayed) was more forthright in wanting to take complete control of the investigation that Trevor had finally had enough and quit (his good friend, Kez, would also quit about two years after the crash for the same reason: He told Al Fayed to his face that he thought his theories were rubbish). I give Trevor and his family (his real last name is just Rees but he changed HIS name to Rees-Jones because he was so in love with his now ex-wife Sue Jones) MUCH credit for coming through such a trying time in their lives not only intact but stronger than ever. They did not let any of the media attention go to their heads (even as Trevor's so-called friends and even Sue were selling themselves to the highest bidder in the media). They remained true small town folks to the end (and Trevor was even able to play his beloved rugby not a year after the crash). Some folks may find this book boring as Trevor is a very down-to-earth chap who just shoots straight from the hip. He doesn't trump up the facts (or make things up entirely as the media decided to do time and again while Trevor refused to give interviews). He presents Diana in a very positive light and tells the unexciting truth about the goings on of the case and behind the scenes shananigans of one Mohammed Al Fayed. Highly recommended (if you can still get it) for a first hand account of wha it's like on the other side of the camera and news reports. |
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| "An Indepth View of a Royal Tragedy" | 2003-08-11 |
| - Reviewed By cpands |
Although somewhat hard to follow ; this is a book definitely worth reading.An indepth look , from the only survivor of a car crash that changed history!What could be more exciting.Somewhat rough around the edges;but ,nevertheless honest and telling Never knowing how these fateful events would unfold as they left the Ritz with Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana , Trevor
and Kez only knew that they were between a rock and a hard place.You don't disrespect the Boss's son when he's entertaining a Princess .It wouldn't be the first time Dodi's last minute change of plans surprised the bodyguards .At the recent screening of "Air Force One" Dodi had seated Diana in Trevors' usual seat by the door.Trevor nearly landed in Diana's lap.That same evening on route to the theatre with the Princess,Trevor had shown professionalism in eluding the paparazzi - so why the change in plans at the Ritz? Dodi's former girlfriend ,Kelly Fisher testified that Dodi was a "real dictator to Trevor".It was apparent that Dodi began to mistrust those around him ; and he just may have tried to impress the Princess with Henri Paul ; someone he knew he could trust. Trevor should have been compensated handsomely for his injuries.Money and justice just don't seem to mix . |
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 "Basically a waste of time.................." | 2003-01-23 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| For those that were truly fans of Diana, this book does nothing. I am not, but still can respect a well written story which this book is definitely not. All it does do, is give some slight info to the curious of what took place a few months prior to her death. As far as any real insight into her life, personality, accident and all the miscellanoeus issues surrounding it, this book just touches the surface. Nothing gained or lost here except a little bit of time in the reading. |
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| "Lifestyles of the obnoxious and spoiled" | 2003-01-15 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| I found this book to be a fascinating and (to me) honest account of Princess Diana's last month, her relationship with the Fayed family and the Paris accident that claimed her life. It left me with three distinct impressions: Princess Diana was spoiled but still acted decently and honorably when dealing with the Fayed family and their staff; the Fayed family (all of them, but most notably Mohammed and his son Dodi) were spoiled, head strong, obnoxious people, and seemingly impossible to work for; and Trevor Rees-Jones is to be strongly commended for putting up with them, coming out of these tragic events in reasonably good emotional shape, and for the misguided but honorable loyalty he maintained to Fayed as long as he did after the accident. I have long thought that the relationship that Fayed protrayed between Dodi and Diana was fantasy, and the book confirmed that without being nasty about it. How he could argue conspiracy theory when even those closest to Dodi couldn't anticipate his movements 5 minutes into the future is beyond me. After all, if Dodi had just skipped Paris and returned home to London, history would be entirely different. And Dodi has always appeared to me (and the book again confirmed this) to be a spoiled, directionless, immature daddy's boy with no accountability to anyone in life. I was left with nothing but distaste for the entire family, and am sorry that, whatever her life's success and failures, Diana found herself so involved with them at her death. It is shocking to me (a product of the U S judicial system) that TRJ was said to have no claim against the Ritz or the Etoile limo company as a result of the accident. Thank goodness England DOES have nationalized health...the medical bills must have been astronomical (and, unlike some other reviewers, it was obvious to me that Fayed paid very little toward them, and even less toward TRJ's legal fees). It was certainly no hardship for Fayed to put up TRJ's family in Paris...they could have stayed in any of his many properties there, and I'm sure he did it only to keep his "claws" in the family and the situation. And the actions of the Fayed organization after TRJ returned to England are downright spooky. Too bad TRJ remained loyal to them for so long, but after the injuries he sustained in their service, I can understand why it was such a measure of success for him to get back to his old life (although putting up with all that abuse for less than US $50K a year is martyrdom). And finally, I don't blame TRJ at all for profiting from the book. After all, many, many people, generally with no relationship to Diana, have written "definitive" books about the last days of her life. And the French legal system did nothing to help TRJ put away any money for all the medical and emotional issues he is likely to have for the rest of his life, or compensate him for the months of his life that he lost. The impact of the accident on his quality of life is obvious...the impact on his QUANTITY of life remains to be seen. Not the best written book, but fascinating all the same. |
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| "Highly Recommend" | 2002-11-26 |
| - Reviewed By thediscountsite |
| I found this book to be a good read. Trevor's story was an interesting point of view. Some say it was a selfish move for Trevor to write this book. I however, believe he does have a story to tell and the right to tell it. He was right alongside Dodi and Diana for the last month of their lives. Anybody has the right to write a book. Nobody including Trevor could tell if Henri was drunk, because if you are medicated and drinking, the alcohol effect may come on all of a sudden and increase the medication effect at the same time and cause any number of side-effects that could suddenly affect your senses and cause an accident. I believe he did his job the best he could with what he had to work with. If I put myself in his place, I would have done the same thing. We can all look back in hindsight and say he should have done this or he should have done that. Of course being in the moment is a whole other story and Trevor is the only one who has that story. I try to keep an open mind when I pick up a book. Maybe some should see the author as a person with something to share. So what if he wanted to make a few extra dollars. I am sure he had big bills to pay. If you were him I'm sure the idea of a telling your story in a book would be attractive for a variety of reasons. But if you are biased when you pick up the book of course you will have a slanted expectation at the end. Thank you Trevor... |
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| "The Bodyguard's Story ..." | 2000-09-23 |
| - Reviewed By deekenned |
| The tragic accident from a fresh but personal point of view. Trevor Rees-Jones, the only survivor, tells of the events leading up to the crash, relates his reconstruction of the accident (through police records and interviews) and gives his personal, pain-filled account of recovery. Although he was overuled in security decisions this young man still feels guilty and like many survivors wishes he had been the one to die. In the aftermath of the crash he has been blamed, praised and condemned. The support for his recovery was given then withdrawn. He, from his perspective, was asked to lie and denied compensation from his employer when he refused. This book was written so that he could tell his story without interference and because he desparately needs income to pay his horrendous medical expenses. He is alive, his injuries have healed but he will never be the same. |
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| "an appealing young man caught up in a nightmare" | 2000-08-06 |
| - Reviewed By winging |
| "The Bodyguard's Story" is well-written, vivid, and informative, in a literate style that's a cut above most of the Diana books. Trevor Rees-Jones found an articulate advocate in Moira Johnston, who helped him with the book. Here we have a portrait of an appealing young man from a sturdy British family, caught up in a horror that nearly took his life. The book depicts several major struggles: The medical struggle, the extensive facial surgery in addition to his many other injuries; the emotional struggle of his brave family, especially his "mum" Jill, to remain upbeat; Trevor's struggle with his loyalty to Fayed and his slow realization that he must end his employment with him. The book is a deceptively quick read, and you come away from it feeling that you know Trevor and his family well, and find much to admire in them. |
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