Biography Flash: Margaret Atwood Honored Amid Book Bans
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Biography Flash: Margaret Atwood Honored Amid Book Bans
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Margaret Atwood has been exceptionally busy this past week, taking center stage during Banned Books Week 2025, which ran from October 5 through 11. The legendary author received the Eleanor Roosevelt Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony held yesterday evening at the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, New York. Publishers Weekly reports that the event featured a keynote from PEN America president Jennifer Finney Boylan and an onstage interview with Atwood herself, who appeared in conversation with WAMC's Joe Donahue.
The timing couldn't be more poignant. PEN America just released its annual report showing 6,870 book bans enacted during the 2024-25 school year across 23 states, with Atwood's own work, particularly The Handmaid's Tale, remaining a frequent target of censors. The Bookseller notes that her 1985 dystopian novel continues to resonate as BookTok creators share compilations of banned books, with Atwood's work consistently appearing as a favorite.
The Eleanor Roosevelt Center, partnering with PEN America, honored Atwood alongside other authors whose books have become flashpoints in current censorship battles. The ceremony celebrated authors, librarians, and activists resisting book bans, with tickets ranging from 46 to 86 dollars and streaming access available for 25 dollars. Oblong Books provided copies of the honorees' works for purchase at the event.
Beyond the awards ceremony, Atwood's presence dominated Banned Books Week activities. The New York Society Library highlighted her attendance at events celebrating those fighting for literacy, while multiple publishing organizations used the occasion to amplify voices against censorship. The Fiction Fans Podcast even released an episode on October 8 specifically discussing The Handmaid's Tale to mark Banned Books Week 2025.
In publishing news, Virago announced plans for an anniversary edition of Atwood's The Blind Assassin, celebrating 25 years since it won the Booker Prize, though specific release details weren't provided.
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