Picture a British poet who turned myths into modern magic and wove lockdown life into a gripping novel—meet Clare Pollard! Born in 1978 in Bolton, UK, this award-winning poet, novelist, and playwright has dazzled readers with her raw, lyrical voice and genre-spanning talent. From her teenage poetry debut to her role as a literary mentor, Pollard’s work is a vibrant tapestry of folklore, feminism, and contemporary life.
The Making of Clare Pollard
Growing up in Bolton, Clare Pollard was a precocious talent, penning poems that caught the literary world’s eye before she even finished school. Educated at Turton School and later Cambridge University, she soaked up influences like Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath, whose confessional styles shaped her bold, introspective voice. At just 19, she published her first poetry collection, The Heavy-Petting Zoo, a fearless dive into youth, desire, and consumer culture that earned her an Eric Gregory Award.
Clare Pollard’s Unforgettable Stories
Pollard’s work spans poetry, novels, plays, and translations, each piece pulsing with her knack for blending myth with modern grit. Her poetry collections, like Changeling (2011), a Poetry Book Society Recommendation, weave folklore and fairy tales into sharp commentary on identity and society. Ovid’s Heroines (2013), her translation of Ovid’s mythical women’s voices, is a feminist tour de force, performed as a one-woman show. Her debut novel, Delphi (2022), captures the absurdity of lockdown life through a classics professor’s lens, laced with oracles and social satire. For younger readers, The Untameables (2024) reimagines Arthurian legends from the perspective of underdog heroes, questioning colonialist narratives with wit and heart.
Her style is both lyrical and accessible, often raw and confessional, yet rich with historical and mythical layers. Whether exploring motherhood, climate crises, or the tales behind children’s picture books in Fierce Bad Rabbits (2019), Pollard’s work invites readers to see the world anew.
Why Clare Pollard Matters
Clare Pollard’s impact stretches beyond her pages. As editor of Modern Poetry in Translation (2017–2022) and Artistic Director of the Winchester Poetry Festival, she’s championed diverse voices and nurtured emerging poets. Her translations, like The Sea-Migrations, bring global stories to English readers, while her judging for prestigious awards shapes the literary canon. Pollard’s ability to tackle contemporary issues—motherhood, politics, and even pandemics—through timeless storytelling makes her a vital voice in British literature.
- Born: 1978, Bolton, UK
- Key Works: The Heavy-Petting Zoo, Delphi, The Untameables, Ovid’s Heroines
- Awards: Eric Gregory Award (2000), Forward Prize shortlist (2022), Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (2024)
Ready to dive into Clare Pollard’s world? Snag Delphi or The Untameables and lose yourself in her lyrical, myth-infused stories!