The publishing industry’s shameful betrayal of Kate Clanchy

The publishing industry’s shameful betrayal of Kate Clanchy

Pan Macmillan has finally apologized for yielding to the pressure from social media activists. Four years ago, the acclaimed author Kate Clanchy faced severe backlash. Her book, Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me, published two years earlier, was accused of racism and even eugenics for its portrayal of ethnic-minority and disabled characters.

Picador, her publisher at the time, quickly issued an apology for the offense caused and pledged to revise the text. Shortly after, Clanchy and Picador ended their partnership. Recently, Pan Macmillan, which owns the Picador imprint, expressed regret over their past actions.

“I’m sorry for the hurt that was caused to Kate Clanchy,” said CEO Joanna Prior, describing her treatment as part of “a regrettable series of events in Pan Macmillan’s past.”

This apology underscores the injustice faced by Clanchy, an Orwell Prize-winning author with nearly 30 years of teaching experience. Her book reflects on her teaching career and was initially well-received by critics and readers.

However, in 2021, some activists, influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement, reevaluated the book with a critical lens, sparking controversy.

Clanchy’s experience reveals the dangers of rushed public judgment and the publishing industry's failure to defend its authors adequately.

Author's summary: The unjust backlash against Kate Clanchy and Pan Macmillan's delayed apology highlight deep challenges in balancing social awareness with artistic integrity in publishing.

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Spiked Spiked — 2025-11-09

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