Product Description

Constance’s mother systematically abused her daughter, both physically and emotionally, throughout her childhood. Regularly beaten and starved, the girl was so desperate she took herself off to Social Services and tried to get taken into care. When that failed, she swallowed bleach 'because it kills all known germs and my mother always told me I was a germ'. When Constance was thirteen, her mother simply moved out, leaving her daughter to fend for herself: there was no gas, no electricity and no food.



But somehow Constance found the courage to survive her terrible start in life. This is her heartrending – and ultimately triumphant – story. (20060122)

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17079 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Review

‘Utterly extraordinary . . . harrowing, often deeply disturbing, but ultimately inspiring’

(Daily Mail )

'Reading the book is like an exercise in bottling up your rage. Afterwards, you feel helpless and disturbed. Which is only right.' (Standard )

'An astonishing true story of hope over adversity' (Mail on Sunday )

'Remarkable' (Good Housekeeping )

'Compelling . . . Disturbingly honest.'

(Woman & Home )

'Horrific, but remarkable too. Let us hope that Constance's story will inspire young people everywhere to not only hold onto their dreams and make them happen, but also to be better parents themselves.'

(Lesley Pearse )

'This is a lawyer's memoir with a difference, an inspiring antidote to the usual catalogue of tedious milestones towards legal eminence . . . She's also managed - a rare feat for a lawyer - to write an absorbing book in language untainted by convoluted legal-speak.'

(Marcel Berlins, Guardian )

'UGLY is the life story of Constance Briscoe. Starved, beaten and told she was an "ugly waste of space", this is a heart-rending account of a mother's cruelty from one of the first black women to sit as a judge in the UK.' (Elle )

From the Publisher
Constance Briscoe's story is truly extraordinary - and to hear her read this audiobook of her life is an unforgettable experience. Her character really shines through in this recording, not just in her words but in her voice and her delivery. It is both gripping and very moving.

From the Author
One of the reviews [Crown Octavia] has suggested that my book has ghost-written hallmarked all over the book. That suggestion is deeply offensive. I wrote the book and it is my work. There never was a ghost-writer. The transcript was presented to the agent as a finished piece.

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Customer Reviews

Riveting and Powerful
From the moment that I began reading this riveting book, my emotions were on a roller coaster following this childs life. I was so sad for the little girl/child and felt such corage at the woman she became.
Only one other book that I had read, NIGHTMARES ECHO (Katlyn Stewart) ever made me feel such an emotional feel as this book did.
I think this is a must read for all schools,libraries and mental health centers. But more than this, I think everyone will find strength,determination and courage in the words of this book.

A First class book
This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. This Child was told she was unwanted by her mother and that she was ugly. What a dreadful statement. We are what God makes us. Yet she survived. From a very early age she got a partime job and provided for herself, alone in a house. Even had to pay her mother rent. The strong character that jumps out from every page is fantastic. She didn`t even know her proper name until she was ready to go to university. Constance Briscoe is now a barrister. There is a photograph of her, inside the back cover, and she is beautiful. What a great person. Good luck to her.

One of the hardest accounts of child abuse I have read
Having seen the controversy surrounding this book in recent media stories, and being an Author, I felt intrigued to purchase this book and read it for myself. I have never read another book like it. I have read many accounts of child abuse from Dave Pelzer, to Julie Gregory and Kevin Lewis and out of all of them I found this book one of the hardest to read. Having been on the receiving end of child abuse myself, I found this book a tough read. It seems to me that Constance has cut herself off emotionally from her family - understandably, and while reading the book, this mental and emotional detachment is obvious. To me, she is an inspiration, and an amazing woman.