A NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, and USA TODAY BESTSELLER

This “intimate and compassionate portrayal of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy that is as captivating as she is” (Dana Thomas, New York Times bestselling author) reexamines her life and legacy like never before. Ideal for fans of the books My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy, What Remains, and Fairy Tale Interrupted.

A quarter of a century after the plane tragedy that claimed the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren, the magnitude of this tragedy remains fresh. However, Carolyn remains an enigmatic figure, a woman whose brief life in the spotlight was marked by misogyny and cruelty. Amid today’s cultural recognition of how the media treats women, Elizabeth Beller “reveals the real woman behind the mystery, and what a woman she proves to be: wonderful, fierce, elegant, flawed… fierce” (J. Randy Taraborrelli, New York Times bestselling author).

When she began dating America’s prince, Carolyn found herself in an overwhelming spotlight filled with relentless paparazzi, who reacted to her reserved demeanor with a campaign of harassment and defamatory comments. To this day, she is still portrayed as a privileged princess—cold, empty, and drug-addicted. She has even been accused of being responsible for their premature death, supposedly delaying departure until her manicure was finished. But now, the truth is finally revealed.

A fiercely independent woman devoted to her adopted city and career, Carolyn relied on her impeccable aesthetic and ambition to advance in Calvin Klein’s glamorous, high-value fashion industry of the 1990s. When Carolyn met her future husband, John was immediately drawn to her strong personality, natural charm, and high intelligence. Their relationship would change her life and catapult her to fame, but her vibrant life before marriage and then hidden afterward is truly fascinating.

Based on in-depth research and exclusive interviews with friends, family members, teachers, roommates, and colleagues, and including never-before-published family photos, this extensive biography reveals a multidimensional woman who deserves our attention regardless of her husband and her premature death.

Pages: 352, Year of Publication: 0703, Dimensions: 15.2x15.2cm