Kitty Kelley's new book: Oprah has a diva snit in Washington antique store; "does not do stairs"

The image of Oprah as America's benevolent earth mother is about to take a serious hit, thanks to -- who else? -- biographer Kitty Kelley, whose book on the talk show queen comes out Tuesday.

"I was astounded that the woman who seems so open and uninhibited is really so choked by secrets," said Kelley, who interviewed more than 800 people and spent four years researching the book.

In a short excerpt obtained by the Reliable Source, Oprah comes off as a demanding diva unwilling to lift a finger -- or foot -- if she doesn't feel like it.

About five years ago, she contacted Georgetown's L'Enfant Gallery, known for high-end antiques, because she owned works by portraitist John Kirthian Court and wanted to see more. Gallery owner Peter Colasante bought three paintings ($60,000-$80,000 each) and had them shipped from Portugal to his shop for Oprah's consideration. He received strict instructions for her short visit, along with a partial schedule: "2:17 p.m.: Oprah's limousine arrives at L'Enfant Gallery, 2:20 p.m.: Oprah walks into gallery...."

On the appointed day and time, two limos pulled up and Oprah went into Deborah Gore Dean's shop across Wisconsin Avenue. After waiting 30 minutes, Colasante walked over and found his famous client berating Dean. He told Oprah and her entourage (secretary, pilot, hairdresser, makeup man, guards) that he had other appointments scheduled and she needed to honor her timetable.

"Oprah does not walk," she told him, referring to herself in the third person. "Who is this guy?" Then she started screaming at her staff, but finally agreed to cross the street and come through his front door.

"I just don't feel it," she told him. "The vibrations aren't right."

"You'll feel them once you see the paintings we've assembled for you," he said, pointing up the stairs where Court's art was hanging.

"Oprah does not do stairs," she said.

Things went rapidly downhill from there: Colasante's partner hissed that maybe Oprah could use the exercise (unclear who heard), and she stormed out in a huff without buying anything.

How accurate is Kelley's version? Dean, who declined to be interviewed for the book, said she doesn't discuss her clients. Winfrey spokeswoman Lisa Halliday declined to comment.

"Kitty got it just right," Colasante told us this weekend. "I was somewhat dumbfounded to see this side of Oprah. I've been in business 37 years, and I've never seen anyone behave that way before -- least of all anyone well-known, who are generally p**sycats. We had a wonderful time with Barbra Streisand." (He eventually sold two of the three Court paintings.)

No telling what else Kelley has unearthed or who gets to hear it: Her book has an initial printing of 500,000 copies, but she said some major news organizations have refused to schedule interviews for fear of Oprah's power and displeasure.

But Kelley told us she's still a fan. "I love her -- she is a biographer's gift. I started the book the same way I ended up, with a great deal of respect for her."