One of the most acclaimed modern writers, Mary Jean Chan impresses through her words and through the stories she tells in her poems. The author was born and raised in Hong Kong but eventually moved to London where she currently lives and works as professor of Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes University.
While she made her debut only in 2016 on the literary scene, her deeply personal and autobiographic poetry brought her a massive audience and acclaim from the start. The subjects she approaches in her poetry are in line with the modern world, discussing topics such as homosexuality and queerness.
Many will find themselves in her poems, as the author expresses in a sincere and raw way the manner in which she tried to come to terms with her identity. She was often put in the situation to choose between her family and living a life true to herself and her internal struggles are documented through her writings.
The author’s mother is a frequent fixture in almost every poem and Mary Jean Chan does not shy away from expressing clearly just how her mother’s inability to accept her identity made her feel. In this sense, the poems offer a unique experience to the reader and also presents a train of thought and a way of looking at the world which is unique.
