Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
 
Spilling the Beans
 
 

Spilling the Beans (Paperback)

by Clarissa Dickson Wright (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


13 used from £1.16

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
   The Bean opens new browser window
pricedealz.co.uk  -  get what you want & save money: The Bean up to 50% off! 
  
 

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Rifling Through My Drawers: My Life in a Year

Rifling Through My Drawers: My Life in a Year

by Clarissa Dickson Wright
3.6 out of 5 stars (9)  £9.98
Clarissa's Comfort Food

Clarissa's Comfort Food

by Clarissa Dickson Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars (3)  £10.24
Paul O'Grady: The Biography

Paul O'Grady: The Biography

by Neil Simpson
3.9 out of 5 stars (29)  £4.71
Two Fat Ladies - Complete Tribute [DVD] [1996]

Two Fat Ladies - Complete Tribute [DVD] [1996]

DVD ~ Two Fat Ladies
5.0 out of 5 stars (13)  £11.78
That's Another Story: The Autobiography

That's Another Story: The Autobiography

by Julie Walters
3.7 out of 5 stars (39)  £4.94
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd; Export ed edition (15 Oct 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0340953004
  • ISBN-13: 978-0340953006
  • Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 14.7 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 778,345 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #26 in  Books > Food & Drink > Food Writers > Clarissa Dickson Wright

Product Description

Product Description

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.


About the Author

Clarissa Dickson Wright found fame alongside Jennifer Paterson as one half of the much loved, TV cooking partnership Two Fat Ladies. She is the author of five cookery books including The Game Cookbook and, most recently, Sunday Roast, both with Johnny Scott. She is also a passionate supporter of the Countryside Alliance and of rural life and pursuits. She lives a little in London but mostly in Scotland.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
Search inside this book:

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


 

Customer Reviews

60 Reviews
5 star:
 (31)
4 star:
 (15)
3 star:
 (6)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (5)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (60 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
83 of 86 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Confined to bed; this almost made it worthwhile., 11 Sep 2007
By Mrs. C. L. Clarke - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Spilling the Beans (Hardcover)
What an amazing, moving, autobiography. A strong person who through her relentlesly non-self-pitying honesty gives hope to all of us with our own acknowledged flaws, and allows us to form other perspectives on various ideas about life without thrusting her own views upon us. Thank you, Clarissa. Perhaps you could now turn your hand to writing novels, since it would be unfair to expect another volume of your autobiography just yet. You have left me wanting to read more of your fabulous thoughts, which could surely be given somewhat more of a free rein in a novel, so please think about turning your talents in that direction.

Sadly, I don't suppose you will ever see this. If anyone else does, I cannot recommend this book more strongly; it is both uplifting and inspiring.

Cora-Lynne
Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, funny, sad, moving and story of survival!, 24 Mar 2008
By E. V. Hall "Lainey" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Spilling the Beans (Hardcover)
I loved it! Clarissa is so funny and very clever! Sadly, she had been affected by alcoholism brought on by the loss of her mother, that said, her father was an alcoholic so the addictive gene is there!

She has had an eventful life to say the least and although was struck by alcoholism and the truama of what happened to her in her earlier years she is a born survivor and an example to all! You can recover and pick yourself up and even better with the support of friends - she has lots of them.

This book was laugh out loud at points - you could actually hear her speaking as you read. There were of course very poignant times too which affected her deeply.

She was never afraid of hard work and proved that even although she was a barrister, when she hit an all time low she took a job in a country manor as a cook! She had no qualms about doing so either. A lesson to us all!

A fine read and well worth the money - I loved it and recommend it to anyone!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful insight into a facinating personality, 10 Sep 2007
By Mrs. B "Mrs.B" (Norfolk, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Spilling the Beans (Hardcover)
I have always loved Clarissa Dickson Wright's TV programs and books. I followed the Two Fat Ladies and Clarissa and the Countryman avidly. When I caught a preview of this book in the Sunday Mail, I preordered it there and then.

It was from the beginning an very matter of fact tale of a person who has led an incredible life of ups and downs and then when it seemed all was lost, turned it around when so many may have just given up.

From being violently abused by her famous father, becomming a barrister just to spite him, to falling into the abyss of alcoholism and then digging herself out again, this story had me enthralled and amazed from the first page to the last.

I recommend it to anyone who is facinated by the human being's ability to survive against the odds.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just another "celebrity" memoir
Clarissa Dickson Wright's early years are extraordinary by any measure; no wonder she became an alcoholic! Read more
Published 20 hours ago by hiljean

2.0 out of 5 stars CDW
I enjoyed parts of this book and found parts of her life interesting but I came to the conclusion that CDW is playing a role. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Pedro the Llama

4.0 out of 5 stars Spilling the Beans
Very interesting history of author without getting too bogged down. Such an honest desciption of the addiction problem and its effects. Read more
Published 13 days ago by jilliz

4.0 out of 5 stars Organic Meets Earthy
When I was 28, in 1984 and was a supposedly mature student in the first year of a law degree, a young female lecturer brought in a guest to talk to my year, a fat florid woman who... Read more
Published 14 days ago by ianrmillard

5.0 out of 5 stars a breath of fresh air!
Well done Ms Dickson Wright. I truly enjoyed the book, it is so refreshing to read an honest true account of what is happening in this country under the present government ect!
Published 22 days ago by Julie Bee

4.0 out of 5 stars spilling the beans
a facinating read, such an interesting woman, used to love two fat ladies, knew from snippets in the show she had an interesting upbringing, its inspiring for any recovering... Read more
Published 23 days ago by babs s

3.0 out of 5 stars a fighting lady
What a great character is Clarissa. A tormented childhood because of her father's erratic ways..even though he was an eminent surgeon. Read more
Published 1 month ago by palace pier

5.0 out of 5 stars Onwards and upwards
What a life!!! From great heights to lowest depths and then the big climb back up again.
An uplifting read,look forward to reading "Rifling through my Drawers"
Published 1 month ago by Reed Well

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY ENTERTAINING
The book was relaxing reading and funny in parts and quite entertaining, I enjoyed it and would buy the next one
Published 1 month ago by CAROL B

5.0 out of 5 stars Clarissa Dixon Wright Spilling The Beans
An interesting and highly entertaining book about Clarissa's colourful life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. D. M. Fellows

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
Sound Advice 13 December 2007
See all discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Look for similar items by subject


Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.