Early Life and Education
Polly Clark, born in Toronto, Canada in 1968, grew up in a diverse set of locations, including Cumbria, Lancashire, and the borders of Scotland. This rich cultural background likely influenced her literary work, making her one of the most recognizable contemporary poets.
Diverse Career Path
Polly Clark has pursued a fascinating variety of careers, from zookeeping at Edinburgh Zoo to teaching English in Hungary. This diverse professional experience adds layers of depth to her poetry, as she has lived through multiple professional paradigms before embracing her true calling as a poet.
Remarkable Achievements
Clark’s accolades started pouring in early in her poetic career. In 1997, she secured the esteemed Eric Gregory Award for her poetry. Her first collection, “Kiss” (2000), was a Poetry Book Society recommendation. This was followed by her second collection, “Take Me With You” (2005), a Poetry Book Society Choice that was shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize. Her work continued to earn recognition with “Farewell My Lovely” published in 2009.
Poet in Residence and Tours
She served as the poet-in-residence for the Southern Daily Echo in Southampton for three years, a project that was shortlisted in the Arts and Business Awards 2002. In 2004, she co-coordinated and presented a tour around the South East of England with Pulitzer-winning author Richard Ford. During this time, Clark was also selected as one of Mslexia Magazine’s 10 best poets to emerge in the last decade.
Translational Work and Latest Publications
A keen interest in the literary works of other cultures led Polly Clark to initiate translation exchanges between poets from various parts of the world, most recently between China and the UK. Her latest poetry collection, “A Handbook for the Afterlife” (2015), marks yet another chapter in her illustrious career.
Current Life
Today, Polly Clark divides her time between the West Coast of Scotland and the South of England, continuing to enrich the literary world with her profound contributions.
