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Spilling the Beans
- Narrated by: Clarissa Dickson Wright
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
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Spilling the Beans
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Summary
Here is the no-holds-barred autobiography, read by the author, of one of the nation's best-loved cooks. Her life has led her from wealth and privilege to alcoholism, bankruptcy, and eventually fame in Two Fat Ladies.
As a privileged child, shooting and hunting were the norm, and pigeons were flown in from Cairo for supper. Clarissa's 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, this audiobook is as moving as it is a cracking good listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Paul
- 15-09-12
A Fascinating Life
Whilst always a great fan of two fat ladies this book goes in depth into the true, no holds barred life of this most wonderful of truly British Characters. Eccentric ?, I don't think so. Just a marvellous story of triumph over adversity. You won't be dissapointed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- ricardo
- 31-01-22
What a life
Brilliant , truthful , colourful account of her wild life in her own words.
Fabulous
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- claudik
- 31-05-23
Fascinating life story
CDW demonstrates that taking a leap of faith and seizing the day when life serves you lemons can make your shuffle in on this mortal coil worthwhile. Loved listening to her story read in her own voice. RIP CDW, TFL was a thorough joy to watch, it’s sad to hear that reruns are difficult to find.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Jemma
- 15-01-09
What an interesting life!
The audiobook is all the better for being read in the authors own voice. The title of the book is very fitting. A good listen over a few days. Would recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- mosses farmhouse
- 23-04-21
Heartfelt, and interesting
An excellent autobiography.
No holds barred, it makes for a fascinating glimpse into Clarissa's life.
I had thought her to be a privileged individual, but she certainly did not have an easy time of it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- vanessa
- 27-11-12
a fascinating life
I loved this book. Clarissa Dickson Wright is a great narrator for her own book. It's abridged and thus fairly short at just under 3 hours, but its wonderfully condensed and takes you through her life story up to the present. A fascinating, honest portrayal of a life that has been really interesting and downright awful at times. It's a great story that I rattled through in one sitting. Recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pocket Earwig
- 27-05-14
Absolutely marvelous
What made the experience of listening to Spilling the Beans the most enjoyable?
Unlike in most autobiographies Clarissa Dickson Wright tells you not just WHAT happened but how she felt about it. I was very moved in places (as was Clarissa during the retelling). Even though I'm not into the huntin' and fishin' lifestyle she tried so hard to protect I still enjoyed this autobiography immensely and was very sorry to hear it end after only a couple of hours. Very enjoyable.
What other book might you compare Spilling the Beans to, and why?
I recently listened to Bring on the Empty Horses by David Niven and while I enjoyed it I didn't really feel like I knew him better afterwards. In Spilling the Beans Clarissa has been wonderfully candid particularly about some of the more shameful aspects of her past. This book could bring comfort to anyone effected by addiction.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Being born into a life of privilege didn't insulate her from a childhood full of violence or a slow decline into alcoholism but her indomitable spirit ensured she absolutely made the best of it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alison St Pierre
- 06-10-13
Enchanting throughout! A must read!
Beautifully written. A glorious use of language, beautifully read. Honest emotion affects Clarissa's reading at certain points and is all the more moving for it. I adored this book and didn't want it to end. Honest, funny, sad and insightful. Loved it!
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Marie
- 22-09-09
Interesting
Very interesting.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- rebecca jane hunt
- 22-01-24
Wonderful storytelling
Everything was great, easy listening, funny, sad and searingly honest tales of an amazing life
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