However, she left once again to accept teaching positions at Sir George Williams University in Montreal and the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Then, after spending a year in Vancouver lecturing at the University of British Columbia and writing what would become her first published novel, The Edible Woman, Atwood returned to Harvard. She interrupted her studies in 1963 and returned to Toronto to work for a market research company. The years that followed, documented by Davey (1984), Carrington (1985), andVanSpanckeren and Castro (1988), brought much change and many moves. from Radcliffe College and began doctoral studies at Harvard. Pratt medal for her first published book of poems, Double Persephone. in Honours English, she had also won the E. This interest sparked a career that helped change the literary landscape in Canada and led countless other students of literature to discover for themselves the Canadian literary tradition.īy 1961, Atwood had not only obtained her B.A. Although she developed her literary interests early in life, beginning to write when she was still a student in high school, Frank Davey (1984) writes that it was as an undergraduate at the University of Toronto’s Victoria College, where she studied under the highly respected literary critic Northrop Frye, that Atwood discovered and developed an interest in Canadian literature. Marie, and the bushes of Northern Ontario and Quebec.

The years of her childhood and early adolescence were divided between the cities of Toronto, Ottawa, and Sault Ste. The last time was in 1996 for her novel Alias Grace.Ītwood was born in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1939. She has won the Governor General’s Award twice (for the book of poems The Circle Game in 1966 and for her novel The Handmaid’s Tale in 1986) and has been short-listed for the prestigious Booker Prize three times. A favourite among academics and the general reading public alike, Atwood has been honoured with numerous literary awards and nominations.

She has now published over 30 books of verse and prose and translations of her works have appeared in over 20 languages. One of the leading Canadian writers of her generation, Atwood has garnered international acclaim as a poet, novelist, short story writer, critic, and author of children’s books. Introduction The Life and Work of Margaret Atwoodįew writers have equalled the success Margaret Atwood has enjoyed since her first collection of poetry was published in 1961.

Author of the edible woman