The revered author Margaret Atwood will publish Book of Lives, her much-anticipated memoir, in November. Most famous for writing The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood will share stories about her unconventional upbringing in northern Canada, her journey as a writer and the moments that led to her award-winning career.
Atwood, 85, has written 17 novels, 19 poetry collections and a slew of short stories and works of nonfiction — but no memoir. A “memoir of sorts,” Book of Lives weaves together strands of personal memory, political rumination and happy interludes. “I sweated blood over this book,” Atwood said. “There was too much life to be contained, but I also laughed a lot.”
The memoir will include encounters with poets, Hollywood actors and Atwood’s late husband, Graeme Gibson. It will also delve into the real-life inspirations for her most famous novels. It’s a “landmark publication,” according to the UK publisher Vintage, that provides a “rare glimpse” into one of the most brilliant minds in literature.
