Atwood, Margaret (1939–)
Atwood, Margaret (1939–)
Canadian novelist, poet and literary critic. Born Margaret Eleanor "Peggy" Atwood, Nov 18, 1939, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; grew up in northern Quebec and Toronto; dau. of a forest entomologist; attended Victoria College; University of Toronto, BA, 1961; Radcliffe College, MA, 1962; also studied at Harvard University, 1962–63, 1965–67.
Canada's most eminent novelist, worked in Canada, Italy, England, and US; taught at University of British Columbia and Sir George William University; her works often focus on environment, women's issues, and Canadian culture; collections of poetry include The Circle Game (1964), Power Politics (1971), You are Happy (1974), True Stories (1981), Margaret Atwood Poems 1965–1975 (1991), and Eating Fire: Selected Poems, 1965–1995 (1998); novels include The Edible Woman (1969), Surfacing (1972), Lady Oracle (1977), Life Before Man (1980), Bodily Harm (1981), The Handmaid's Tale (1985), Cat's Eye (1989), The Robber Bride (1993), Alias Grace (1996), The Blind Assassin (2000), and Oryx and Crake (2003); also published nonfiction, short stories, and children's books; was president of Writers Union of Canada (1981–82) and PEN, Canada (1984–86). Recipient of several awards, including Governor General's Award, Norwegian Order of Literary Merit, and French Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres; won the Booker Prize for The Blind Assassin (2000).