born Nov. 18, 1939, Ottawa, Ont., Can.
Canadian poet, novelist, and critic.
Atwood attended the University of Toronto and Harvard University. In the poetry collection The Circle Game (1964; Governor General's Award), she celebrates the natural world and condemns materialism. Her novels, several of which have become best-sellers, include Lady Oracle (1976), Bodily Harm (1981), The Handmaid's Tale (1985; Governor General's Award), The Robber Bride (1993), Alias Grace (1996), and The Blind Assassin (2000). She is noted for her feminism and Canadian nationalism.