DistantNews
Support us
🇺🇸 United States /Culture & Society

Margaret Atwood fights book bans with fiery activism

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Author Margaret Atwood is responding to book bans by writing, speaking out, and even torching an unburnable edition of her work for charity.
  • Her books, including "The Handmaid's Tale," have been banned in U.S. school districts for content deemed overly sexual or morally corrupt.
  • Atwood notes that "The Handmaid's Tale," published in 1985, has become eerily prescient due to the rollback of reproductive rights.

Margaret Atwood, the celebrated 86-year-old Canadian author, is confronting the increasing trend of book bans targeting her work with a characteristic blend of defiance and wit. Her novels, including the seminal "The Handmaid's Tale" and Booker Prize winners "The Testaments" and "The Blind Assassin," have been removed from 135 American school districts.

The government put out an edict to all school boards saying that they couldn't have any books in the library that had either direct or indirect sex. What is indirect sex?

— Margaret AtwoodDiscussing book bans in schools.

Atwood's books face bans for content deemed overly sexual, morally corrupt, or anti-Christian. She expressed particular annoyance when a ban originated from Edmonton, Alberta, within her home country. "The government put out an edict to all school boards saying that they couldn't have any books in the library that had either direct or indirect sex," she stated, questioning the ambiguity of "indirect sex."

To combat censorship, Atwood not only pens opinion pieces but also engages in more dramatic acts. She participated in a charity auction for PEN America, a free speech advocacy nonprofit, by torching an "unburnable edition" of one of her books. This act served as a fiery response to those attempting to "burn books."

Have you had indirect sex lately?

— Margaret AtwoodResponding humorously to the concept of 'indirect sex' in book bans.

Published in 1985, "The Handmaid's Tale" depicts a dystopian future America ruled by a religious dictatorship, where fertile women are forced into childbearing for the elite. The novel has sold over 10 million copies and inspired an Emmy-winning television series. Its iconic red costume has also become a symbol of protest and resistance in real life.

Well, we say over 50 for everything. How old are you? Over 50. How many books have you written? Over 50. How many awards have you won? Over 50.

— Margaret AtwoodAnswering questions about her prolific career.

Atwood, however, is modest about the book's success, questioning the notion of it being her "magnum opus" or "Great Gatsby." She attributes its enduring relevance partly to "the twists and turns of history." The novel's themes have become increasingly resonant with the rollback of reproductive rights and the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, making "The Handmaid's Tale" feel "eerily prescient" to many readers.

You think?

— Margaret AtwoodResponding to the description of 'The Handmaid's Tale' as her magnum opus.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog