by Clarissa Dickson Wright (Author)
Clarissa was born into wealth and privilege, as a child, shooting and hunting were the norm and pigeons were flown in from Cairo for supper. Her mother was an Australian heiress, her father was a brilliant surgeon to the Royal family. But he was also a tyrannical and violent drunk who used to beat her and force her to eat carrots with slugs still clinging to them. Clarissa was determined and clever, though, and her ambition led her to a career in the law. At the age of 21, she was the youngest ever woman to be called to the Bar. Then disaster struck when her adored mother died suddenly. It was to lead to a mind-numbing decade of wild over-indulgence. Rich from her inheritance, in the end Clarissa had partied away her entire fortune. It was a long, hard road to recovery along which Clarissa finally faced her demons and turned to the one thing that had always brought her joy - cooking. Now at last she has found success, sobriety - and peace. With the stark honesty and the brilliant wit we love her for, Clarissa recounts the tale of a life lived to extremes. A vivid and funny story, it is as moving as it is a cracking good read.
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Edition: 1st Edition 12th Printing
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 06 Sep 2007
ISBN 10: 0340933887
ISBN 13: 9780340933886
Prizes: Shortlisted for Independent Booksellers' Week Book of the Year Award: Adults' Book of the Year 2009 and British Book Awards: Tesco Biography of the Year Award 2008 and Independent Booksellers' Week Book of the Year Award: Adults' Book of the Year 2008.