I Am Clarence
Published on 10. July 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-241-76685-9 (ISBN)
Description
A haunting novel exploring a mother's fierce love for her disabled son as she grapples with her own mental health, by the author of the feminist cult classic The Princess of 72nd Street
'Funny, disarming and frequently ruthless' The New York Times
Clarence cannot see very well. He has seizures. He knows the word 'tangerine' but has forgotten the word 'Mommy'. For Clarence's mother, life revolves around her young son; she takes him to see specialists, protects him from the cruelty of other children, loves him fiercely. But she has her own struggles. Her sanity is precarious and fractured. When her mental health reaches breaking point, she is forced to decide between Clarence's well-being and her own.
Told through bright fragments of memories, I Am Clarence is a piercing journey into one woman's mind, which asks, how much can a mother sacrifice for her child, and survive?
With an introduction by Sarah Manguso.
'Funny, disarming and frequently ruthless' The New York Times
Clarence cannot see very well. He has seizures. He knows the word 'tangerine' but has forgotten the word 'Mommy'. For Clarence's mother, life revolves around her young son; she takes him to see specialists, protects him from the cruelty of other children, loves him fiercely. But she has her own struggles. Her sanity is precarious and fractured. When her mental health reaches breaking point, she is forced to decide between Clarence's well-being and her own.
Told through bright fragments of memories, I Am Clarence is a piercing journey into one woman's mind, which asks, how much can a mother sacrifice for her child, and survive?
With an introduction by Sarah Manguso.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
172 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-76685-9 (9780241766859)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Elaine Kraf (1936-2013) was a writer and painter. She was the author of four published works of fiction: I Am Clarence (1969), The House of Madelaine (1971), Find Him! (1977) and The Princess of 72nd Street (1979)-as well as several unpublished novels, plays and poetry collections. She was the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts awards, a 1971 fellowship at the Broad Loaf Writers' Conference and a 1977 residency at Yaddo. She was born and lived in New York City.