Poison That Fascinates

Jennifer Clement is President Emerita of the human rights and freedom of expression organization PEN International and the only woman to hold the office of President (2015-2021) since the organization was founded in 1921. Under her leadership, the groundbreaking PEN International Women's Manifesto and The Democracy of the Imagination Manifesto were created.Clement's award-winning novels, memoirs and poetry have been translated into 38 languages and have been taken to the stage and screen. Her work has covered topics such as the stealing of little girls in Mexico (Prayers for the Stolen) gun violence and trafficking of guns into Mexico and Central America (Gun Love) as well as writing about her life in the art worlds of Mexico and New York in Widow Basquiat and The Promised Party. For Clement's work in human rights, she was awarded the HIP Award for contribution to Latino Communities by the Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) Organization, as well as being the recipient of the Sara Curry Humanitarian Award. Most recently, she was given the 2023 Freedom of Expression Honorary title on the occasion of World Press Day by Brussels University Alliance VUB and ULB in partnership with the European Commission, European Endowment for Democracy and UNESCO. Jennifer Clement was raised in Mexico where she lives.

"An astonishing novel, every line alive, leading as if effortlessly to a shocking climax. A work of power and originality." -Alan Sillitoe"Vivid with detail, each colour-soaked page leading us irresistibly to the next." -Kirsty Gunn"Might have been produced by Angela Carter . . . Weird, unpredictable and magic realist." -The Independent"What a marvelous writer Clement is. She contains all this power in a prose that is simple and simply beguiling. A cri de coeur." -The Scotsman"Highly original. Her prose is poetic in the true sense: precise as a scalpel, lyrical and the story is unputdownable." -Ruth Padel, The Guardian