Margaret Atwood

Margaret Eleanor Atwood

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian novelist, poet, essayist and literary critic whose major works include The Edible Woman, The Blind Assassin and The Testaments. Her public standing rests on an extensive literary career recognized by two Booker Prizes, Governor General's awards and appointment as a Companion of the Order of Canada.

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About Margaret Atwood

Profile information current to 2026-08-23.

Canada · Novelist, Poet, Literary critic · 5 affiliations

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Known for: Novels; Poetry; Literary criticism and essays; Literary and public activism
Country: Canada

Novelist
Poet
Literary critic
Essayist
Activist

At a glance

Atwood has worked across novels, poetry, essays and literary criticism.
Her first novel, The Edible Woman, was published in 1969.
She won the 2000 Booker Prize for The Blind Assassin and shared the 2019 prize for The Testaments.
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1973 and a Companion in 1981.
Atwood was among the founders of the Griffin Poetry Prize and received its Lifetime Recognition Award in 2025.

Background and education

Margaret Eleanor Atwood was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on November 18, 1939. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria College at the University of Toronto in 1961 and an A.M. from Radcliffe College in 1962.

Literary career

Atwood's career spans fiction, poetry, essays and literary criticism. Her poetry collection The Circle Game received a Governor General's Award in 1966, and her first novel, The Edible Woman, appeared in 1969. The Handmaid's Tale also received a Governor General's Literary Award, although reviewed sources disagree on whether the associated year was 1985 or 1986.

Teaching and literary institutions

Before and alongside her literary career, Atwood held English teaching appointments at the University of British Columbia, Sir George Williams University, the University of Alberta and York University. She was also among the founders of the Griffin Poetry Prize in 2000, extending her contribution to the institutional support of poetry.

Honours and recognition

Atwood won the Booker Prize in 2000 for The Blind Assassin and shared the 2019 Booker Prize for The Testaments. In Canada, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1973 and a Companion in 1981. The Griffin Poetry Prize presented her with its Lifetime Recognition Award in 2025.

2025 memoir

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts was released on November 4, 2025. The available evidence does not establish a complete bibliography after that date, so the memoir is not characterized here as Atwood's most recent work as of August 23, 2026.

Affiliations

Griffin Poetry Prize Founder 2000
University of British Columbia English teaching appointment
Sir George Williams University English teaching appointment
University of Alberta English teaching appointment
York University English teaching appointment

Timeline

1939-11-18 Born in Ottawa, Ontario.
1961 Received a B.A. from Victoria College at the University of Toronto.
1962 Received an A.M. from Radcliffe College.
1966 Received a Governor General's Award for The Circle Game.
1969 Published her first novel, The Edible Woman.
1973 Appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
1981 Appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada.
2000 Won the Booker Prize for The Blind Assassin.
2019 Jointly won the Booker Prize for The Testaments.
2025 Received the Griffin Poetry Prize Lifetime Recognition Award.
2025-11-04 Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts was released by McClelland & Stewart.

Additional verified details

Current context

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts was released on November 4, 2025. This dated publication fact does not establish that it remained Atwood's most recent work as of August 23, 2026.

Biographical facts

Margaret Eleanor Atwood was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on November 18, 1939.
She received a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria College at the University of Toronto in 1961.
She received an A.M. degree from Radcliffe College in 1962.
Atwood held English teaching appointments at the University of British Columbia, Sir George Williams University, the University of Alberta and York University.
Atwood published her first novel, The Edible Woman, in 1969.
Her poetry collection The Circle Game received a Governor General's Award in 1966.
The Handmaid's Tale received a Governor General's Literary Award.
Atwood won the Booker Prize in 2000 for The Blind Assassin.
The Testaments was a joint winner of the 2019 Booker Prize.
Atwood was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1973 and a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1981.
Atwood was among the founders of the Griffin Poetry Prize in 2000.
Atwood received the Griffin Poetry Prize Lifetime Recognition Award in 2025.