Totaling 272 pages, "Foreign Soil" and Other Stories is a collection of short fiction. Set all across the world -- from Africa, to London, to the United States, to the West Indies, to Australia -- this collection gives a voice to those without one across the world. One short story chronicles of an asylum seeker in Australia; another tells the story of a Mississippi housewife who makes a huge sacrifice in service of her son. Most importantly, though, this book asks important, though-provoking questions of readers.
At release, "Foreign Soil" and Other Stories received critical acclaim. Kirkus Reviews absolutely adored the book, writing that Clarke is "A tremendous new voice; a writer of immense talent and depth." Essence Magazine thought similarly, calling the book “Sterling" and saying that the book has "a powerful view of the beauty and complexities of globalization.” It also garnered a number of impressive awards, including the 2013 Victorian Premier's Unpublished Manuscript Award, the 2015 ABIA Award for Best Literary Fiction, the 2015 Indie Award for Best Debut Fiction, and a spot on the shortlist for the 2015 Stella Prize. Although critically acclaimed, this collection will likely never be widely read.
