Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing by Margaret Atwood
From the bestselling author of The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments
"A clear-eyed glance into the shadows where writers work and live." --The Washington Post Book World
In this wise and quotable book, Margaret Atwood addresses the riddle of her art: why people pursue writing, how they view their calling, and what bargains they make with their audiences, both real and imagined. Atwood brings a candid appraisal of her own experience as well as a breadth of reading that encompasses everything from Dante to Elmore Leonard.
About This Book
Negotiating with the Dead offers an invaluable insider's view of the writer's universe. This ambitious artistic inquiry is conducted with unpretentious charm, making it accessible to aspiring writers and literature enthusiasts alike. Atwood examines the fundamental questions that drive writers: the relationship between writer and reader, the nature of the creative process, and the role of the author in society.
What Makes This Book Essential
Drawing from her decades of experience as one of the most intelligent writers working in English, Atwood provides practical insights alongside literary analysis. The book serves as both a meditation on the writing life and a guide for those who pursue the craft. Her observations span classical literature to contemporary fiction, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of authorship across time and genre.
About Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is the author of more than fifty books of fiction, poetry and critical essays. Her novels include Cat's Eye, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin, and the MaddAddam trilogy. Her 1985 classic, The Handmaid's Tale, was followed in 2019 by a sequel, The Testaments, which was a global number one bestseller and won the Booker Prize. In 2020 she published Dearly, her first collection of poetry for a decade.
Atwood has won numerous awards including the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Imagination in Service to Society, the Franz Kafka Award, the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, the PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. In 2019 she was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to literature. She has also worked as a cartoonist, illustrator, librettist, playwright and puppeteer. She lives in Toronto, Canada.
Perfect For
Writers seeking guidance on their craft, students of creative writing, readers interested in the literary process, and fans of Margaret Atwood's work will find this book indispensable. Negotiating with the Dead provides both inspiration and practical wisdom for anyone engaged with the written word.
