Briscoe, C: Ugly

Constance Briscoe practises as a barrister and in 1996 became a part-time judge - one of the first black women to sit as a judge in the UK. She lives in Clapham with her two children, Martin and Francesca. Her partner is Tony Arlidge QC.

'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 20060123 'An astonishing true story of hope over adversity' -- Mail on Sunday 20060122 'Remarkable' -- Good Housekeeping 20060122 'Compelling ... Disturbingly honest.' -- Woman & Home 20060122 '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 20060122 '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 20060122 '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 20060122