Clarissa was born into wealth and privilege, 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 Rich from her inheritance, in the end Clarissa 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