Londres, milieu des années 1960.
Depuis son plus jeune âge, Constance Briscoe est persécutée par sa mère, qui en a fait son souffre-douleur. Insultes, coups, humiliations, privation de nourriture... Les mauvais traitements ne connaissent aucune limite, sans pour autant attirer l'attention des services sociaux. Mais grâce à son incroyable résilience, et avec l'aide de quelques personnes bienveillantes, Constance parviendra à réaliser son rêve : devenir avocate, un idéal alors difficile à atteindre pour une jeune Noire issue d'un milieu défavorisé.
Son témoignage, poignant, prouve que malgré un très mauvais départ dans la vie un individu peut accomplir de grandes choses.
Constance's mother abused her, both physically and emotionally. 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. Later, her mother simply moved out, leaving her to fend for herself, with no gas, electricity or food.
The number one bestselling memoir, set to top the charts once more in paperback
Despite her mother's constant physical and psychological abuse, Constance Briscoe has gained a place at Newcastle University to study law - a long-held ambition. She finances her studies by several jobs at weekends and during the holidays, including working with the terminally ill in a hospice. She also finds the money to pay for several cosmetic surgery treatments in an attempt to transform the face that her mother has convinced her is ugly, ugly, ugly. With the degree achieved, Constance takes up Michael Mansfield's invitation to become a pupil in his prestigious chambers. But she didn't find the support and encouragement she expected.