Passion or Profession: Writer and Critic

Period: 1939–to-date

Atwood is considered a pioneer of women’s literature in Canada. Her works, which include volumes of poetry, short stories, and novels, focus on feminist issues and interpersonal relationships. Her novels The Edible Woman (1969), The Handmaid’s Tale (1985), and The Blind Assassin (2000) all deal with these issues in styles ranging from historical fiction to science fiction. Atwood is also a noted literary critic.