Three times a countess : the extraordinary life and times of Raine Spencer

TELEGRAPH 50 BEST BOOKS OF 2022'A sparkling biography of a fascinating woman' - Lynn Barber, Telegraph***** 'Gaudoin's book is revealing and hugely entertaining. Highly recommended.' - Daily Mail'Gaudoin tells these delicious stories with brio' - Sunday TimesDebutante of the year. Able politician. Femme fatale. Just some of the many labels attached to the irrepressible, controversial Raine Spencer: Countess, socialite and stepmother to Diana, Princess of Wales. But who was the real Raine? What was hidden behind the immaculately manicured public façade and her overwhelmingly negative tabloid image?From her childhood days as daughter of romantic novelist powerhouse, Barbara Cartland, to Westminster councillor and wife of Earl Spencer, Three Times a Countess recounts Raine's compelling and glamorous life, revealing her to be a powerful, accomplished woman who, after a tumultuous relationship, reconciled with Diana to become the Princess's closest confidante and a key witness at the inquest into her death. To her friends, Raine was shrewd, intelligent, witty and loyal; to her enemies, pushy, overly flamboyant and ruthless. From a career spanning local politics to dealing with the fortunes of Althorp; from taking on the Spencer family estate to her final role as a board member at Harrods, Raine's life was, by any standards, a success .Yet she could not sway the powerful media narrative which pitted her as 'the evil stepmother' at every turn. A societal whirl of London Seasons, family feuds, politics, pomp and 'big hair', Gaudoin's vibrant history of the Countess sets the record straight once and for all, drawing insight from those who knew Raine most. Three Times a Countess reveals a sophisticated, determined woman whose loyalty knew no bounds and whose cache of secrets would have worried even the most upright of royals. Femme Fatale. Evil Stepmother. Astute Businesswomen. Just Some Of The Many Labels Thrown At The Conspicuous Raine Spencer: Countess, Socialite And Stepmother To Princess Diana. But Who Was The Real Raine? What Was Masked Behind The Public Façade? From Middle-class London Girl To Countess And Wife Of Earl Spencer, Three Times A Countess Recounts Raine's Fascinating - And Scandalous - Life, Demystifying Her Scathing Tabloid Reputation And Uncovering How, After A Tumultuous Relationship With The Princess, She Became One Of Diana's Closest Confidantes. To Her Friends, Raine Was Shrewd, Witty. To Her Enemies, Overly Flamboyant, Ruthless. In Any Case, There Was One Certainty - Raine Was Certainly Not Devoid Of Character. Indeed, It Was Crystal Clear From Her Upbringing That Raine Was Destined For A Glamorous Life. From Being Named Deb Of The Year In 1947 To 'bride Of The Year' Upon Her First Marriage To Hon. Gerald Legge; From A Career Spanning Local Politics (becoming The Youngest Ever Female Councillor In Westminster) To Dealing With The Fortunes Of Althorp; From Taking On The Spencer Family Estate To A Later Career With Harrods - It Was Evident That Raine's Power And Intellect Took Her To High Places, And Yet It Couldn't Sway The Media Who Insisted On Calling Her, 'acid Raine'. Pitted Against Diana At Every Turn, Their Fractious Relationship Began To Reconcile Towards The End Of The Princess' Life, Providing Solace For Both Women And Sending The Press Into A Frenzy. Crucially, Raine Also Became A Vital Witness During The Inquest Into The Princess' Death, Providing A Gripping, Unexpected And Moving Testimony. Gaudoin's Vibrant History Of The Countess Sets The Record Straight Once And For All, Drawing Insight From Those Who Knew Raine Most. A Societal Whirl Of London Seasons, Marshalling Mamas, Adulterous Affairs, Family Feuds And More, Three Times A Countess Also Offers A Gripping Commentary On High Society: A Must-read For Those Fascinated By History, The Inner Workings Of The Royal Family, Or What Life Was Really Like For Diana Behind Closed Doors. From middle-class London girl to Countess and wife of Earl Spencer, Three Times a Countess charts the scandalous life of Raine Spencer, demystifying her femme fatale tabloid reputation and uncovering the truth behind her becoming one of Princess Diana's closest confidantes.