:Kate Clanchy

She was born in 1965 in Glasgow to medieval historian Michael Clanchy and teacher Joan Clanchy (née Milne){{cite web |last1=Clanchy |first1=Kate |title=Kate Clanchy: For my mother, the test of a good teacher was how much you gave the children |website=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/kate-clanchy-for-my-mother-the-test-of-a-good-teacher-was-how-much-you-gave-the-children-b6v5wzdrk |access-date=21 November 2023 |language=en |date=21 November 2023}}{{Cite web|last=UCL|date=2021-02-05|title=Professor Michael Clanchy FBA (1936–2021)|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/news/2021/feb/professor-michael-clanchy-fba-1936-2021|access-date=2021-07-29|website=History|language=en}} She was educated at George Watson's College, a private school in Edinburgh and at the University of Oxford, where she studied English.{{cite news |last1=Wilby |first1=Peter |title=Teacher who helps migrant children turn pain into prize poetry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/nov/05/migrant-child-turn-pain-into-poetry-teacher-kate-clanchy |accessdate=26 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=5 November 2019}}

She lived in the East End of London for several years, before moving to Oxford where she was a fellow of Oxford Brookes University and served as City Poet.{{Cite web |title=Kate Clanchy, Oxford City Poet at Oxford Brookes University |url=https://www.brookes.ac.uk/research/units/hss/projects/kate-clanchy-oxford-city-poet |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Oxford Brookes University |language=en}} She is Writer in Residence for Sanctuary Arts{{Cite web |title=Sanctuary at Mansfield {{!}} Mansfield College |url=https://www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk/news/sanctuary-mansfield |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk}} at Mansfield College, Oxford.

In 2021 she wrote an essay about the deaths of both her parents from COVID-19.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/apr/06/letting-go-my-battle-to-help-my-parents-die-a-good-death|title=Letting go: my battle to help my parents die a good death|first=Kate|last=Clanchy|date=6 April 2021|newspaper=The Guardian}}

Clanchy qualified as a teacher in 1989 and has taught since in several different institutions. Her memoir of her teaching experience,Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me won the Orwell Prize for Political Writing in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Winners |first1=Orwell Prize |title=Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me {{!}} The Orwell Foundation |url=https://www.orwellfoundation.com/political-writing/some-kids-i-taught-and-what-they-taught-me/ |website=www.orwellfoundation.com |access-date=1 December 2023}}

From 2009-2019 she combined employment as a teacher and a role as Writer in Residence at Oxford Spires Academy, a multicultural comprehensive school. Noted students included Mukahang Limbu,{{cite news |last1=Isis Editorial |title=The Changing Face of Poetry {{!}} The Isis |url=https://isismagazine.org.uk/2019/11/the-changing-face-of-poetry/ |publisher=Isis Magazine}} Shukria Rezaei,{{cite web |last1=Brothers |first1=Caroline |title=Poetry helps Afghan girl find her path in England |url=https://www.unhcr.org/uk/news/stories/poetry-helps-afghan-girl-find-her-path-england |website=UNHCR NEWS |access-date=22 November 2023}} and Amineh Abou Kerech.{{cite news |last1=UN News |title=First Person: Poetry and the pain of loss and leaving; a voice from Syria {{!}} UN News |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/03/1086942 |work=news.un.org |date=14 March 2021 |language=en}} In 2018 she edited an anthology of poems written by her students, England: Poems from a School, which was widely reviewed.{{cite news |last1=Noel-Tod |first1=Jeremy |title=Review: England: Poems from a School edited by Kate Clancy — when students made poetry their top sport |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/review-england-poems-from-a-school-edited-by-kate-clancy-when-students-made-poetry-their-top-sport-w0r6j96gw |access-date=21 November 2023 |date=21 November 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/10/england-poems-from-a-school-kate-clanchy-review|title=England: Poems from a School, edited by Kate Clanchy – review|first=Kate|last=Kellaway|newspaper=The Observer |date=10 July 2018|via=The Guardian}} Over the lockdown period of 2020 Clanchy met on Zoom with her students and published their poems on Twitter where they became popular.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bookword.co.uk/unmute-young-voices-from-lockdown/|title=Unmute: Young Voices from Lockdown|date=26 August 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Sanderson |first1=Imogen |title=Young British Poets are Encapsulating the Spirit of Lockdown |url=https://www.economist.com/prospero/2020/07/06/young-british-poets-are-encapsulating-the-experience-of-lockdown |access-date=1 December 2023 |publisher=The Economist}} In 2021 she published a self-help guide to writing poetry, How to Grow Your Own Poem.

Clanchy won an Eric Gregory Award in 1995.{{cite web |title=Eric Gregory Awards - The Society of Authors |url=https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/eric-gregory-awards/ |access-date=2 December 2023 |date=8 May 2020}} She published three poetry collections between 1996 and 2004. They won a Forward Prize,{{cite web |last1=Alumni |first1=Forward Prizes |title=Forward Alumni 1992-Present |url=https://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/forward-prizes-for-poetry/forward-prizes-alumni/ |website=Forward Arts Foundation |access-date=1 December 2023 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924082945/https://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/forward-prizes-for-poetry/forward-prizes-alumni/ |url-status=dead }} the Scottish First Book of the Year (then Saltire Prize) two Scottish Arts Council Book Awards, and a Somerset Maugham Award.{{cite web |last1=Allumni |first1=Somerset Maugham |title=Somerset Maugham Awards - The Society of Authors |url=https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/somerset-maugham-awards/ |website=Society of Authors |access-date=1 December 2023 |date=8 May 2020}} In 2008, she moved into non fiction with a memoir about her relationship with her Kosovan neighbour. What is She Doing Here? This was republished as Antigona and Me and won the Writers Guild Award.{{cite web |title=Writers' Guild Awards archive |url=https://writersguild.org.uk/writers-guild-awards-archive/ |website=Writers' Guild of Great Britain |access-date=2 December 2023}}

In 2009 she won both the VS Pritchett and BBC National Short Story Award.{{cite news |last1=Clanchy |first1=Kate |title=The Not-Dead and the Saved |url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/books-and-literature/fiction/53513/the-not-dead-and-the-saved |work=www.prospectmagazine.co.uk |language=en}} This was followed by a novel, Meeting the English,{{cite news |last1=Dunmore |first1=Helen |title=Meeting the English by Kate Clanchy – review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/apr/25/meeting-english-kate-clanchy-review |work=The Guardian |date=25 April 2013}} which was shortlisted for the Costa Prize, and a collection of short stories, The Not Dead and the Saved.{{cite news |last1=Rakoff |first1=Joanna |title=The Not-Dead and the Saved – Kate Clanchy's first short-story collection |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/04/the-not-dead-and-the-saved-kate-clanchy-review-first-short-story-collection |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=4 July 2015}}

Clanchy has written and adapted for BBC Radio since 2001 with 12 plays and serials produced, notably Hester, A Little Princess,{{cite news |last1=Hepworth |first1=David |title=This week's best radio: Trevor Nelson, film soundtracks and gothic princesses |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/feb/04/david-hepworth-radio-preview |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=4 February 2017}} which starred Adjoa Andoh and Enduring Love. In 2015 her broadcast anthology of her pupils' work, We Are Writing a Poem About Home,{{cite web |last1=Clanchy |first1=Kate |title=BBC Radio 3 - Between the Ears, We Are Writing a Poem about Home |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06gpcgw |website=BBC |access-date=21 November 2023}} was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award.{{cite news |last1=Award |first1=Ted Hughes |title=The Poetry Society |url=https://poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/from-we-are-writing-a-poem-about-home |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=poetrysociety.org.uk}} In 2018 she was awarded a Cholmondeley Award.{{cite web |title=Cholmondeley Awards - The Society of Authors |url=https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/cholmondeley-awards/ |date=8 May 2020}} Other work includes:

• {{cite book| title=Samarkand | publisher=Picador| year=1999| isbn=978-0-330-37194-0 }}
• {{cite book| title=Slattern | publisher=Picador| year=2001| isbn=978-0-330-48929-4 }} 1st edition Chatto & Windus, 1995
• {{cite book| title=All The Poems You Need To Say Hello | publisher=Picador| year=2004| isbn=978-0-330-43384-6 }} (editor)
• {{cite book| title=Our Cat Henry Comes to the Swings | others=illustrated Jemima Bird| year=2005| publisher=Oxford University Press| isbn=978-0-19-272557-8 }}
• {{cite book| title=Newborn | publisher=Macmillan UK| year=2006| isbn=978-0-330-41931-4 }} 1st edition Picador, 2004
• {{cite book| title=What Is She Doing Here?: A Refugee's Story | publisher=Picador| year=2008| isbn=978-0-330-44382-1 }}
• {{cite book| title=Antigona and Me | publisher=Picador| year=2009| isbn=978-0-330-44933-5 }}
• {{cite book| title=Meeting the English | publisher=Picador| year=2013| isbn=978-0-330-53527-4 }}
• {{cite book| title=The Not Dead and the Saved 2015 | isbn=978-0330535250}}
• {{cite book |title=England, Poems from a School |date=3 December 2023 |publisher=Picador |isbn=978-1509886609}}
• {{cite book| title=Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me | publisher=Picador| year=2019| isbn=978-1-5098-4029-8 }}
• {{cite book| title=How to Grow Your Own Poem | publisher=Picador| year=2020| isbn=978-1-5290-2469-2 }}

In 2021, Clanchy posted on Twitter encouraging followers to report a Goodreads review of Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me, stating that they had "made up a racist quote and said it was in my book".{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/aug/13/pointing-out-racism-in-books-is-not-an-attack-kate-clanchy |title=Pointing out racism in books is not an 'attack' – it's a call for industry reform |last=Rajesh |first=Monisha |author-link=Monisha Rajesh |date=13 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |access-date=14 August 2021}} In a response published in The Guardian, Monisha Rajesh argued that although the exact quotes in question were not present, similar offensive stereotypes were present throughout the book.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/aug/10/kate-clanchy-to-rewrite-memoir-after-criticism-of-racist-and-ableist-tropes |title=Kate Clanchy to rewrite memoir amid criticism of 'racist and ableist tropes' |last=Campbell |first=Lucy |date=10 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |access-date=10 August 2021}}

Clanchy was criticised by other authors, including Chimene Suleyman, Monisha Rajesh and Sunny Singh, who received large amounts of abuse in the following months.{{cite news |last1=Hinsliff |first1=Gaby |title=The book that tore publishing apart: 'Harm has been done, and now everyone's afraid' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jun/18/the-book-that-tore-publishing-apart-harm-has-been-done-and-now-everyones-afraid |access-date=24 November 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=18 June 2022}} An open letter signed by over 950 people from the publishing industry condemned the targeted harassment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/open-letter-signed-150-clanchy-saga-publishing-must-do-better-1275793|title=Book industry figures condemn abuse of Clanchy critics in open letter|website=The Bookseller}} Clanchy's publishers, Picador, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing, issued three statements of apology in August 2021 and stated that the books would be rewritten. Further statements of apology were made following an interview{{cite web |last1=Allfree |first1=Claire |title=The crisis at the heart of literary fiction |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/crisis-heart-literary-fiction/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=2 December 2023 |date=26 November 2021}} with Philip Gwyn Jones, Publisher of Picador, in the Daily Telegraph in December 2021.{{cite news |title=Picador publisher Gwyn Jones apologises after Clanchy remarks reignite criticism |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/clanchy-publisher-gwyn-jones-apologises-after-remarks-reignite-criticism-1292295 |access-date=2 December 2023 |work=The Bookseller |language=En}}

Clanchy was defended in articles by Sonia Sodha, who stated that 'the strand of anti-racist thinking that is obsessed with the blame and shame all white people should bear for structural discrimination is (so) corrosive to common cause and understanding'{{Cite news |last=Sodha |first=Sonia |date=2022-01-23 |title=The hounding of author Kate Clanchy has been a witch-hunt without mercy |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/23/the-hounding-of-kate-clanchy-has-been-a-witch-hunt-without-mercy |access-date=2023-11-15 |issn=0029-7712}} and by Clive Davis,{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Clive |date=2023-11-15 |title=This year's Edinburgh Fringe is for locals. Maybe it's better that way |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/comedy/article/this-years-edinburgh-fringe-is-for-locals-maybe-its-better-that-way-9jstlh7x7 |access-date=2023-11-15 |issn=0140-0460}} Tomiwa Owolade,{{Cite web |last=Owolade |first=Tomiwa |date=2021-09-12 |title=The problem with white saviours |url=https://unherd.com/2021/09/the-problem-with-white-saviours/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=UnHerd |language=en-GB}} Shukria Rezaei,{{Cite news |last=Rezaei |first=Shukria |date=2023-11-15 |title=I do have 'almond-shaped eyes'. My teacher Kate Clanchy described me beautifully |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/i-do-have-almond-shaped-eyes-my-teacher-kate-clanchy-described-me-beautifully-vtwp50b06 |access-date=2023-11-15 |issn=0140-0460}} Carmen Callil{{Cite web |title=Virago founder Callil quits Society of Authors over Clanchy response |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/virago-founder-callil-cancels-soa-membership-over-clanchy-response-1279393 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}} Amanda Craig and Philip Pullman. A group of her former students wrote that they had experienced no safeguarding issues and were 'disempowered and distressed' by the critics' allegations.{{Cite web |title=Clanchy students defend author over safeguarding criticism |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/clanchy-students-say-they-did-not-experience-safeguarding-or-consent-issues-1278744 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}}

In December 2021, Clanchy published an article in Prospect magazine on the personal impact of public cancellation.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Ostracised, disinvited, rescinded: what it's like to get cancelled |url=https://dlv.prospect.gcpp.io/society/38229/ostracised-disinvited-rescinded-what-its-like-to-get-cancelled |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=dlv.prospect.gcpp.io |language=en}} Consequently, her publisher Picador announced they would no longer publish her books.{{Cite news |last=Hinsliff |first=Gaby |date=2022-06-18 |title=The book that tore publishing apart: 'Harm has been done, and now everyone's afraid' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jun/18/the-book-that-tore-publishing-apart-harm-has-been-done-and-now-everyones-afraid |access-date=2023-11-15 |issn=0261-3077}} In an interview for UnHerd, Clanchy said that the apology put out by Pan Macmillan had been made "over her head" and without consulting her.{{Citation |title=Kate Clanchy: "My life's work has been taken away" | date=26 January 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq3VZaVRj6o |access-date=2023-11-15 |language=en}} She subsequently wrote an article on sensitivity readers,{{Cite web |last=Clanchy |first=Kate |date=2022-02-18 |title=How sensitivity readers corrupt literature |url=https://unherd.com/2022/02/how-sensitivity-readers-corrupted-literature/ |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=UnHerd |language=en-GB}} which continued to be discussed in the following years.{{cite news |last1=Abrams |first1=Rebecca |title=Sense and sensitivity: why books need to unsettle us |url=https://www.ft.com/content/98717cb3-1fe8-4972-a561-a21d042eefa3 |access-date=23 November 2023 |work=Financial Times |publisher=Financial Times |date=25 March 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Adorney |first1=Jonathon |title=Is Disney's new movie Wish a 'woke' disaster? |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/community-family/is-disneys-new-movie-wish-a-woke-disaster |work=Restoring America |publisher=Washington Examiner |date=17 November 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Vegard Hagesæther |first1=Per |title=Publishing's Maligned Helpers |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/amagasinet/i/EQKjga/bokbransjens-utskjelte-hjelpere |access-date=22 November 2023 |work=www.aftenposten.no |publisher=AftenP{osten |date=23 April 2023 |language=nb}}{{cite news |last1=Goldszal |first1=Clémentine |title=The rise of sensitivity readers in the literary world: A sign of inclusivity or a threat to free speech? |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2023/01/29/the-rise-of-sensitivity-readers-in-the-literary-world-a-sign-of-inclusivity-or-a-threat-to-free-speech_6013569_117.html |work=Le Monde.fr |publisher=Le Monde |date=29 January 2023 |ref=Kate Clanchy |language=en}} especially in the context of the Roald Dahl revision controversy. Clanchy is now published by Swift Press.{{cite web |title=Kate Clanchy |url=https://swiftpress.com/book-author/kate-clanchy/ |website=Swift Press |access-date=14 November 2023}}

Clanchy was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2010https://rsliterature.org/fellows/kate-clanchy/ {{dead link|date=November 2023}} and resigned her fellowship in 2023.{{Cite news |last=Sanderson |first=David |work =The Times |date=5 February 2024 |title=Inside the row tearing the Royal Society of Literature apart |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/inside-the-row-tearing-the-royal-society-of-literature-apart-d3z2zr7cl |access-date=5 February 2024 |language=en }}

Clanchy was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette|issue=62310|supp=y|page=B15| date=9 June 2018}} Other awards include:

• 1994 Eric Gregory Award
• 1997 Forward Poetry Prize (Best First Collection) for Slattern{{cite web|url=http://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/forward-prizes-for-poetry/forward-alumni|title=Forward Arts Foundation Alumni|access-date=24 June 2019|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713130038/http://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/forward-prizes-for-poetry/forward-alumni/|url-status=dead}}
• 1996 London Arts Board New Writer Award*{{cite web |last1=Clanchy |first1=Kate |title=Contemporary Writers |url=http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth125 |website=British Council Contemporary Writers |publisher=British Counchy |access-date=2 December 2023}}
• 1996 Saltire Society Scottish First Book of the Year Award for Slattern
• 1996 Scottish Arts Council Book Award for Slattern{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/artsinscotland/literature/projects/bookawards2009/nonfiction.aspx|title=Scottish Arts Council - Literature - Book Awards 2009 - Non-fiction|publisher=|accessdate=22 March 2017}}
• 1997 Mail on Sunday/John Llewellyn Rhys Prize (shortlist) for Slattern
• 1997 Somerset Maugham Award for Slattern.
• 1999 Forward Poetry Prize (Best Poetry Collection of the Year) (shortlist) for Samarkand
• 1999 Scottish Arts Council Book Award for Samarkand{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/artsinscotland/literature/projects/bookawards2009/nonfiction.aspx|title=Scottish Arts Council - Literature - Book Awards 2009 - Non-fiction|publisher=|accessdate=22 March 2017}}
• 2004 Forward Poetry Prize (Best Poetry Collection of the Year) (shortlist) for Newborn
• 2009 Scottish Arts Council Book Award for What Is She Doing Here?: A Refugee's Story{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/artsinscotland/literature/projects/bookawards2009/nonfiction.aspx|title=Scottish Arts Council - Literature - Book Awards 2009 - Non-fiction|publisher=|accessdate=22 March 2017}}
• 2009 Writers' Guild Award for Best Book (What is She Doing Here)
• 2009 V. S. Pritchett Memorial Prize for 'The Not Dead and the Saved'{{cite web |title=V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize |url=https://rsliterature.org/vs-pritchett-short-story-prize/ |website=Royal Society of Literature |date=10 September 2023}}
• 2009 BBC National Short Story Award for The Not-Dead and The Saved
• 2013 Costa Book Awards (First Novel), shortlisted for Meeting the English{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/nov/26/costa-book-award-shortlists-2013 |title=Costa book awards 2013: late author on all-female fiction shortlist |work=The Guardian |author=Mark Brown |date=26 November 2013 |accessdate=27 November 2013}}
• 2015 Ted Hughes Award for Poetry (shortlist){{Cite web|url=https://poetrysociety.org.uk/competitions/ted-hughes-award/2015-2/|title=2015 – The Poetry Society|website=poetrysociety.org.uk}}
• 2018 Cholmondeley Award.
• 2020 Orwell Prize for Political Writing for Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me{{Cite web|url=https://www.orwellfoundation.com/political-writing/some-kids-i-taught-and-what-they-taught-me/|title = Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me | the Orwell Foundation}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth125 "Kate Clanchy", British Council]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091006020608/http://www.saltpublishing.com/horizon/issues/02/text/bertram_vicki_interview.htm "‘Cool in my forties’: Kate Clanchy in conversation with Vicki Bertram", Horizon Review, Volume 2]
• [http://www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=3329 "The Girl from Nowhere: John Stammers interviews Kate Clanchy". Magma No 9 - Spring 1997]
• [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/dec/07/bbc-national-short-story-award?INTCMP=SRCH "Poet Kate Clanchy wins BBC National Short Story award". Guardian article. 7 December 2009]
• [http://www.cittadelmonte.it/wordpress/kate-clanchy-lincontro-delle-cose/ A review to 'La testa di Shakila' by Andrea Galgano. Città del Monte italian article about Kate Clanchy. 2 September 2019]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clanchy, Kate}}

Category:1965 births

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Category:20th-century Scottish dramatists and playwrights

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Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford

Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature

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