Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Once upon a Time

  • The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
  • By: Elizabeth Beller
  • Narrated by: Emily Tremaine
  • Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (18 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Once upon a Time

By: Elizabeth Beller
Narrated by: Emily Tremaine
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

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

The life and legacy of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., are reexamined in this captivating and effervescent biography that is perfect for fans of
My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy, What Remains, and Fairy Tale Interrupted.

A quarter of a century after the plane crash that claimed the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren, the magnitude of this tragedy remains fresh. Yet, Carolyn is still an enigmatic figure, a woman whose short life in the spotlight was besieged with misogyny and cruelty.

Amidst today’s cultural reckoning about the way our media treats women, Elizabeth Beller explores the real person behind the tabloid headlines and media frenzy. When she began dating America’s prince, Carolyn was increasingly thrust into an overwhelming spotlight filled with relentless paparazzi who reacted to her reserve with a campaign of harassment and vilification.

To this day, she is still depicted as a privileged princess—icy, vapid, and drug-addicted. She has even been accused of being responsible for their untimely death, allegedly delaying take-off until she finished her pedicure. But now, she is revealed as never before.

A fiercely independent woman devoted to her adopted city and career, Carolyn relied on her impeccable eye and drive to fly up the ranks at Calvin Klein in the glossy, high-stakes fashion world of the 1990s. When Carolyn met her future husband, John was immediately drawn to her strong-willed personality, effortless charm, and high intelligence. Their relationship would change her life and catapult her to dizzying fame, but it was her vibrant life before their marriage and then hidden afterwards, that is truly fascinating.

Based on in-depth research and exclusive interviews with friends, family members, teachers, roommates, and colleagues, this comprehensive biography reveals a multi-faceted woman worthy of our attention regardless of her husband and untimely death.

©2024 Elizabeth Beller (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

JFK Jr. cover art
Jackie cover art
The Kennedy Heirs cover art
Reckless cover art
The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters cover art
White House by the Sea cover art
America's Reluctant Prince cover art
Astor cover art
Vanderbilt cover art
Jackie, Janet & Lee cover art
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis cover art
Iconic cover art
War of the Windsors cover art
Jackie's Girl cover art
Three Times a Countess cover art
The Lives of Lee Miller cover art

What listeners say about Once upon a Time

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Carolyn

Got to say what a wonderful book about Carolyn Kennedy. Who you never hear much about. As for obvious reasons it’s always about her husband. So it was good to hear about her upbringing,teenage years before she even met JFK jr

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well written and great narration

Interesting to find out more about her story. The media can be cruel but sad to know she was so affected by it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!