This is the first book-length study of the poetry and journal writings of Gillian Clarke in their entirety; it is the first extensive examination of her work published in this century, and the first full account of how her work has developed in the course of her career as a writer and teacher. In addressing timely and highly relevant themes that have been generally overlooked until now, the book highlights and re-examines Clarke's importance for today’s readers. Discussing the energy, subtlety and originality of her works, the author commends Clarke as an innovative, politically-alert and scientifically- and cosmologically-aware Welsh writer of global significance.