Melissa Harrison’s debut novel, Clay, intertwines the lives of four distinct characters with the vibrant flora and fauna of the city. The narrative revolves around a troubled schoolboy, TC; Sophie, a candid widow; her pampered granddaughter Daisy; and Jozef, a Polish worker who carves wooden figurines. Through their stories, Harrison emphasizes the importance of recognizing the natural world amid urban existence.
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Harrison notes, "It was important to describe the city in a way that didn't just prioritize the humans," highlighting the presence of squirrels, birds, and foxes that share the urban landscape.
At 37, Harrison grew up in Surrey and discovered her passion for nature during childhood holidays in Dartmoor. She studied at Oxford, works as a freelance magazine subeditor, and won the John Muir Trust wild writing prize in 2010. Clay, developed over two years and completed in 2010, reflects influences from authors like Robert Macfarlane and Richard Mabey.
During her 20s, she sought advice from Jeanette Winterson, who encouraged her to find a defining message for her writing. A visit to Devon, contrasting sharply with her London life, profoundly impacted her perspective on appreciating nature. Harrison describes her work as exploring the theme of "a loss of innocence, and what happens to people when they become distanced from nature."