Instigating Change: Margaret Atwood

The beautiful Margaret Atwood (photo from McClelland.com)

Atwood’s been one of my favourite authors since…well, forever. I love her writing, and I love how prolific she is. You’ll find novels, stories, articles, CBC Massey Lectures, significant bits and bobs of all kinds everywhere. I could wax poetic about this beautiful and amazing woman, this wee powerhouse of brains and creative talent. Her voice—that is, her tongue-in-cheek and/or direct style—thrills me. Margaret Atwood is not afraid to think and ask questions or to speak her mind. She is an active contributor to bettering not only Canada but our world.

One of Atwood’s interests, as you might already know, is the state of our world. She talks environment. She speaks politics. She writes, perhaps surprisingly but very successfully, about debt. Atwood’s also known for uncannily predicting the future (though perhaps it’s not so uncanny if you, like her, are paying attention).

As a result of her important reflections and contributions, Atwood was recently announced a winner of the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award in Davos, Switzerland. The conference where the award was presented was called Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Restate, Rebuild, and the purpose of the meeting was to recognize artists who have used their art to provide significant insight and effect positive change.

Unfortunately, apparently due to time constraints, acceptance speeches were cut. You can find Atwood’s speech here.

If you know Atwood only as a dystopian novelist because you were told to read The Handmaid’s Tale in school, I dare you to venture beyond that and see what else she has to say. You might be surprised to find more than you bargained for, and a voice you support.

PS. Already a Margaret Atwood fan? Check out her lovely new set of Bloomsbury editions!

[Via http://bellasbookshelves.wordpress.com]