Author Polly Clark has been named as one of ten finalists for the 2026 Anne Brown Essay Prize, celebrating excellence in short non-fiction by writers from Scotland.
Her shortlisted essay, Speaking Animal, explores how encounters with animals have shaped her understanding of attention, compassion, communication and writing. Drawing on experiences including caring for an orangutan at Edinburgh Zoo and her relationship with a beloved rabbit, Polly reflects on the ways animals can change how we see and understand the world.
The £1,500 prize and trophy will be awarded at a special event at Bladnoch Distillery during the Wigtown Book Festival on 4 October.
Now in its fifth year, the prize commemorates Anne Brown, the former chair of Wigtown Festival Company and BBC radio journalist and producer.