CLARISSA

Hugo Vickers brings tremendous authority to this life of one of the most significant and intriguing political wives of the last century. The integrity of his scholarship and his deep personal knowledge of his subject make this a compelling and definitive work. * Professor Simon Heffer *A vivid portrayal of a remarkable and unusual woman, her world, and her times. Hugely enjoyable. * Jung Chang *An engrossing and intimate biography of a remarkable and fascinating woman. Hugo Vickers deftly captures Clarissa’s enigmatic personality and the glamorous world in which she moved. * Robert Harris *Affectionate, crisp and gossipy … What a lost world this book captures – Ysenda Maxtone Graham * The Times *It is hard to think of another living author with such a wide knowledge of Clarissa’s world, and Vickers’s diligent, skilful biography is unfailingly readable – John Jolliffe * The Spectator *A lissom, festive and very endearing biography – Richard Davenport-Hines * Literary Review *She made Hugo Vickers her literary executor in 1985, meaning that he had complete access to her diaries and letters – Lynn Barber * Daily Telegraph *

Hugo Vickers is a writer, lecturer and broadcaster, and an acknowledged expert on the British Royal Family. He has written biographies of the Queen Mother, Cecil Beaton, Vivien Leigh, Princess Andrew of Greece and the Duchess of Windsor. His book The Kiss won the 1996 Stern Silver Pen Award for Non-Fiction. His recent bestsellers have included The Quest For Queen Mary and The Sphinx - the life of Gladys, the Duchess of Marlborough.