Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood's reputation as a poet, novelist, critic, essayist, short story writer, and social historian has been established through over sixty works, translated into more than twenty languages. The Canadian author's books include Cat's Eye, The Handmaiden's Tale, Alias Grace, and The Blind Assassin. Atwood's extraordinary oeuvre has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Man Booker Prize, Guggenheim Fellowship and the Order of Canada Citation. Her 2005 novella, The Penelopiad, is part of the Canongate Myth Series, which features contemporary writers' reimagining of classical myths. In addition to the influence of the Classics, Atwood's work frequently carries themes of feminism, environmentalism and political activism. Her forthcoming novel, The Year of the Flood, draws on a group of characters who call themselves "God's Gardeners," which Atwood first introduced in her novel Oryx and Crake. A highly imaginative novel, The Year of the Flood draws influence from science fiction, dystopian writings, homeopathic medicine, the chorus of Greek tragedy and classical epic. To celebrate this wide-ranging project, Margaret Atwood will host a special evening of music, live performance and readings, both from and inspired by the novel.