NEW YORK/PARIS/LONDON — On August 31st, the world marks 28 years since the tragic death of Princess Diana, the “People’s Princess” who captivated hearts with her humanity, vulnerability, and grace. But this year, a provocative new novel is stirring fresh questions—and even a little hope.
In Duch, author JB Miller spins a sharp, hilarious, and poignant tale that dares to imagine the unthinkable: What if Diana survived—and quietly returned to Paris, decades later?
Set in a swirling three-week romp through modern-day Paris and London, Duch centers on a mysterious silver-haired woman in her sixties found wandering outside a Paris hospital. She’s lost her memory. She wears a locket with photos of William and Harry. She speaks like a Windsor. And she insists her name is Diana.
Her old school friend from boarding days—who once called her Duch—recognizes her instantly. So do thousands of Britons who are suddenly, and possibly irrationally, convinced: Princess Diana is back.
Is this a long-lost royal miracle, or is the world suffering from a collective case of Diana Derangement Syndrome?
“At
this very moment she's undoubtedly renting an apartment in Paris,”
— Prince Harry, Spare
JB Miller, known for his biting wit and tender insight, has crafted what critics are calling “a masterful dream,” a heartfelt social satire that explores grief, identity, power, and the myth of Diana in a post-truth age.
“Duch
has pathos, joy and humor… It takes a masterful writer to create this complex
and beautiful dream, and Miller is a master!”
— Jennifer Clement, author of Widow Basquiat and President
Emerita of PEN International
“Farce,
satire, page-turner, cultural commentary, counterfactual history… Duch
rings true with all its implausible narratives.”
— John Donatich, author of Ambivalence, A Love Story
As Britain reflects on Princess Diana’s enduring legacy—and the monarchy’s evolving future—Duch offers a singular, spellbinding, and surprisingly affectionate lens into the royals’ most haunting question: What would happen if Diana came back?
