Margaret Atwood is best known as a celebrated novelist, poet, essayist and literary critic – but she can also turn her hand to a spot of palm reading.

“You’re very healthy and you’re going to live a long time,” she told The Current’s Matt Galloway, scrutinizing his hand at a recent interview at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library in Toronto.”I don’t say that to everybody,” she added.

Atwood retraces the lines of her own life in Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, which explores how decades of moving through the world have shaped her writing, and how writing, in turn, has shaped her life.

Now 85,Atwood is often described as the queen of Canadian literature. She’s published more than 50 books of fiction, poetry and criticism, with works including The Handmaid’s Tale and Alias Grace turned into major screen adaptations.

For years her public appearances have provoked much excitement and long line-ups, but the 1969 publicity event for her first novel, The Edible Woman, was a much more humble affair.”It was in the men’s sock and underwear department of the Hudson’s Bay Company,” she told Galloway.

Atwood remembers it was a November day in Edmonton, where everyone was wearing galoshes. She doesn’t know why organizers chose that precise location in## Margaret Atwood’s unconventional childhood shaped her, but didn’t make her a writer, she says

For Margaret Atwood, childhood wasn’t spent in bustling city streets or neatly manicured suburbs. It was a nomadic existence, moving with her family to remote locations across Canada as her father, a forest entomologist, pursued his research.

She and her siblings spent their formative years in the wilderness – in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec – living in cabins, tents, and small towns. They explored the outdoors, their playground vast and untamed.

“We lived in the bush,” Atwood explained in a recent interview. “We lived in places where there wasn’t any electricity, any running water, any of the things that people now consider essential.”

She said people have always asked her if this unconventional childhood made her a writer, but she points out that “writers are writers for all sorts of different reasons.” 

“You can’t stick a person in the woods and expect them to become a writer,” she said. 

Atwood put together her first collection of poetry in Grade 1: a book called Rhyming Cats, which she also illustrated. By her senior year of high school, she declared in performing poetry at the Bohemian Embassy cafe. The country’s literary scene was still “very underground and quiet small,” she told The Current.

In Book of Lives she writes that,”Most canadians felt there wasn’t any Canadian writing,and even if there was some,it was bound to be second-rate. Real writers came from elsewhere.”

But the 1960s saw a radical shift. literary giants like Atwood, Michael Ondaatje and Alice Munro made their debuts, as new magazines and publis

Margaret Atwood on love, loss and why The Handmaid’s Tale feels so relevant today

Margaret Atwood is a literary icon, celebrated for her novels, poetry and essays exploring themes of power, gender and identity.But beyond the celebrated author lies a personal story of love, loss and a keen observation of the world around her.

In a recent interview with CBC’s Eleanor Wachtel, Atwood reflected on her life and work, offering insights into her creative process and the enduring relevance of her most famous novel, The Handmaid’s Tale.

Atwood grew up in a family that encouraged intellectual curiosity. Her mother was a teacher, and her father a forester. She spent much of her childhood in the woods, developing a deep connection to nature that continues to influence her writing.

“I was a bit of a solitary child,” Atwood said.”I spent a lot of time reading and wandering in the woods. I made up stories in my head.”

She attended the University of Toronto, where she studied English literature and ideology. It was there she met fellow writer Graeme Gibson.

In the years that followed, Atwood began her relationship with the writer and conservationist Graeme Gibson, who was her long-term partner until his death in 2019.They shared a love of birds and canoe trips. Atwood writes that before they became a couple, Gibson watched her read a friend’s palm – and felt a desire for her to read his too.

“I think he liked me holding his hand,” she said.

Trump and The Handmaid’s Tale

Atwood never tells her publishers what she’s working on, including when she wrote The Handmaid’s Tale, published in 1985.

At the time the U.S. was seen as a “beacon of light” in the Cold War struggle, and atwood feared her publishers would balk at a dystopian future where American women were brutalized by a theocratic dictatorship. When it was published, Atwood remembers many readers and critics saying it could never happen.

“But Ronald Reagan had been elected in 1980 and there was already a push in that direction from the rising religious right-wing,” she said. “So I was looking at what they were saying.”

When U.S. President Donald Trump was first elected in 2016, Atwood was working on the first season of the The Handmaid’s Tale TV show. The day after the election, she knew there had been a shift.

“Nothing about the show changed, but the frame changed and it was viewed differently,” she said. “It was no longer a remote fantasy; it was an approaching reality.”

The Importance of Early Childhood Education

Early childhood education – encompassing the years from birth to age eight – is more than just daycare or preschool. It’s a critical period for brain progress and lays the foundation for future success in school, work, and life. Investing in these early years yields significant returns,not just for the child,but for society as a whole.

Why are the Early years So significant?

The first five years of a child’s life are a time of incredible growth. During this period,the brain develops more rapidly than at any other time. Experiences during these years literally shape the brain’s architecture, influencing cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. High-quality early childhood education provides stimulating environments and nurturing interactions that support this crucial development.

Specifically, early learning programs help children develop:

• Cognitive Skills: Problem-solving, critical thinking, and early math and literacy skills.
• Social-Emotional skills: Self-regulation,empathy,cooperation,and the ability to form positive relationships.
• Language Skills: Vocabulary,dialog skills,and pre-reading abilities.
• Physical Development: Gross and fine motor skills, coordination, and healthy habits.

Benefits of Early Childhood Education

The benefits of early childhood education are far-reaching and well-documented. Research consistently shows that children who participate in high-quality programs:

• Perform Better in School: They are more likely to graduate high school, attend college, and achieve higher test scores.
• Earn Higher Salaries: Long-term studies demonstrate a correlation between early childhood education and increased earning potential.
• Are Less Likely to Engage in Crime: Early intervention programs can reduce the likelihood of involvement in the criminal justice system.
• Have Better health Outcomes: Early childhood education can promote healthy habits and reduce health disparities.
• Develop Stronger Social Skills: They are better equipped to navigate social situations and build positive relationships.

What Makes a Program High-Quality?

Not all early childhood education programs are created equal. A high-quality program typically includes:

• Qualified Teachers: Educators with specialized training in early childhood development.
• Low Child-to-Teacher Ratios: Allowing for individualized attention and support.
• Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum: Activities and learning experiences tailored to the age and developmental stage of the children.
• Safe and Stimulating Habitat: A clean, organized, and engaging learning space.
• Parent Involvement: Opportunities for parents to participate in their child’s learning and development.

Access and Affordability

Despite the clear benefits, access to high-quality early childhood education remains a challenge for many families.The cost of childcare and preschool can be prohibitive, especially for low-income families. Advocacy for increased funding and affordable options is crucial to ensure that all children have the opportunity to benefit from these vital programs.

Key Takeaways

• Early childhood education is a critical investment in a child’s future.
• The first five years are a period of rapid brain development.
• High-quality programs foster cognitive, social-emotional, and physical growth.
• Access to affordable early childhood education is essential for equity and opportunity.
• the benefits extend beyond the individual child, positively impacting society as a whole.

Sources:

UNICEF – Early Childhood Development

CDC – learn the Signs. Act Early.

Office of Head Start