Margaret Atwood

1939, Canada — present

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian novelist, poet, and essayist, globally recognized for The Handmaid's Tale, Oryx and Crake, and Alias Grace. Her work often examines power, gender, and dystopian futures. The Handmaid's Tale was written as a warning about authoritarianism and the control of women's bodies, grounded in historical precedents. Her books have been challenged for sexual content, religious themes, and political commentary. Atwood has responded with sharp criticism of censorship, often pointing out the irony that dystopian warnings are themselves suppressed.