Margaret Atwood

Writing

Born: 1939-11-18

From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Gender: Female

Popularity: 0.4

Biography

Born in Ottawa and raised in Toronto, Margaret Atwood graduated from the University of Toronto’s Victoria College in 1961 and pursued a master's at Harvard in 1963. Her teaching stint at the University of British Columbia marked her start, but it was her poetry collection, "The Circle Game," in 1964 that brought her initial literary acclaim. Her debut novel, "The Edible Woman" (1969), resonated with early feminist movements, followed by "Surfacing" in 1972, a Canadian literature mainstay. The '70s saw her prolific output: six poetry volumes, three short-story collections, and bestsellers like "Lady Oracle," "Life Before Man," and "Bodily Harm." In 1985, "The Handmaid's Tale" propelled her to global fame, showcasing her futuristic, dystopian storytelling. Subsequent novels like "Cat's Eye," "The Robber Bride," and "Alias Grace" solidified her international acclaim. Her impact extends beyond literature; as the first novelist and poet on Canada’s Walk of Fame, Atwood embodies Canadian humility, stating, "We don’t put up with people who get too high and mighty." Her work continues to resonate, cementing her status as a treasured Canadian storyteller.

Awards & Nominations30 won · 26 nominated

🏆 Won

Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

2021

Nominated

Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel

The Testaments

2020

Nominated

Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction Novel

The Testaments

2020

🏆 Won

VH1 Trailblazer Honors

2019

🏆 Won

Companion of Honour

2019

🏆 Won

Booker Prize

The Testaments

2019

🏆 Won

Carl Sandburg Literary Award

2018

🏆 Won

Lorne Pierce Medal

2018

🏆 Won

Franz Kafka Prize

2017

🏆 Won

Aurora Award for Best Graphic Novel

Angel Catbird

2017

🏆 Won

St. Louis Literary Award

2017

🏆 Won

Peace Prize of the German Publishers' and Booksellers' Association

2017

🏆 Won

Raymond Chandler Award

2017

🏆 Won

Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award

2016

🏆 Won

Tähtivaeltaja Award

MaddAddam

2016

🏆 Won

Golden Wreath

2016

🏆 Won

PEN Pinter Prize

2016

Nominated

Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards

Hag-Seed

2016

Nominated

Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence

Stone Mattress: Nine Tales

2015

Nominated

Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel

MaddAddam

2014

Nominated

Audie Awards

The Handmaid's Tale

2013

🏆 Won

Los Angeles Times Book Prize

2012

🏆 Won

Dan David Prize

2010

🏆 Won

Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature

2010

Nominated

Neustadt International Prize for Literature

2010

Nominated

John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel

The Year of the Flood

2010

🏆 Won

Giller Prize

The Year of the Flood

2009

🏆 Won

Nelly Sachs Prize

2009

🏆 Won

Princess of Asturias Literary Prize

2008

Nominated

International Booker Prize

2007

Nominated

Mythopoeic Awards

The Penelopiad

2006

Nominated

Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire for Best Foreign Novel

Oryx and Crake

2006

Nominated

Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature

The Penelopiad

2006

🏆 Won

honorary doctor of the Sorbonne Nouvelle University

2005

Nominated

International Booker Prize

2005

🏆 Won

honorary doctor of Harvard University

2004

Nominated

Giller Prize

Oryx and Crake

2003

Nominated

Booker Prize

Oryx and Crake

2003

Nominated

Governor General's Award for English-language fiction

Oryx and Crake

2003

Nominated

Dublin Literary Award

The Blind Assassin

2002

🏆 Won

Hammett Prize

The Blind Assassin

2001

🏆 Won

Canada's Walk of Fame

2001

🏆 Won

Booker Prize

The Blind Assassin

2000

Nominated

Hammett Prize

The Blind Assassin

2000

Nominated

Governor General's Award for English-language fiction

The Blind Assassin

2000

🏆 Won

Helmerich Award

1999

Nominated

Dublin Literary Award

Alias Grace

1998

🏆 Won

Mondello Prize

1997

🏆 Won

Giller Prize

Alias Grace

1996

Nominated

Governor General's Award for English-language fiction

Alias Grace

1996

Nominated

Otherwise Award

Alias Grace

1996

Nominated

Booker Prize

Alias Grace

1996

Nominated

Governor General's Award for English-language fiction

The Robber Bride

1994

Nominated

Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour

Good Bones

1993

Nominated

Governor General's Award for English-language fiction

Wilderness Tips

1991

🏆 Won

Order of Ontario

1990

Acting3 titles

8.2

Series

Writing9 titles

8.2

Series

The Handmaid's Tale

2017-2025Drama

7.1

Series

Screen Two

1985-1998Drama

New8.3

Series

The Testaments

2026 - ...Drama

Cartoon

Wandering Wenda

2017Animation

7.2

Series

Alias Grace

2017Thriller

6.1

Movie

The Handmaid's Tale

1990Drama

9.0

Series

For the Record

1976-1985Drama

4.8

Movie

The Robber Bride

2007Drama

4.7

Movie

Surfacing

1981Drama

Production2 titles

8.2

Series

The Handmaid's Tale

2017-2025Drama

7.2

Series

Alias Grace

2017Thriller

Creator1 title

Cartoon

Wandering Wenda

2017Animation