Jennifer Clement is the President of PEN International and the first woman to be elected since the organization was founded in 1921. She studied English Literature and Anthropology at New York University and also studied French Literature in Paris, France. She has an MFA from the University of Southern Maine.
Clement is the author three novels Prayers for the Stolen, A True Story Based on Lies and The Poison That Fascinates. She also wrote the acclaimed memoir Widow Basquiat and is the author of several books of poetry. Clement’s books have been translated into 24 languages. Her novel A True Story Based on Lies was an Orange Prize finalist and Prayers for the Stolen was a Prix Femina finalist in France.