Polly Samson’s first novel, Out of the Picture, was shortlisted for the Authors’ Club Award and many of her stories have been read on the BBC’s Radio 4. Samson has written an introduction for a collection of Daphne du Maurier’s earliest stories and has been a judge for the Costa Book Awards. Her novel The Kindness was named Book of the Year by the Times and the Observer. She is currently writing the introductions to new editions of Charmian Clift’s Peel Me a Lotus and Mermaid Singing. Samson has written lyrics for four number-one albums and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.