Mary Jean Chan
2 SeriesMary Jean Chan is a Chinese-British poet, editor, and critic based in London. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Swarthmore College with a BA in Political Science and a minor in English Literature. Chan also holds an MPhil in International Development from Oxford University, and an MA and PhD in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London.
Flèche by Mary Jean Chan is an award-winning poetry collection that explores the complexities of identity. The title, meaning "arrow" in French, references an offensive fencing technique, reflecting Chan's own experiences in the sport during her youth in Hong Kong. The collection uses the pun on "flèche" and "flesh" to depict the queer, non-white body as both vulnerable and weaponized. It delves into the struggle of balancing the need for safety with the desire to embrace the world fully. A winner of the Costa Poetry Award and a Poetry Book Society Recommendation, Flèche offers a poignant examination of self and protection.
