First published 2020
Margaret Atwood examines life's transitions through verse in her first poetry collection in more than ten years. The poems address loss and conclusions alongside gifts and fresh beginnings. Atwood writes about aging bodies and changing minds, the small objects and daily practices that anchor us to the present moment. Mythical creatures like werewolves and sirens appear throughout, joined by animals and pieces of our broken natural world. The collection spans Atwood's signature concerns, condensed into poetic form. She moves from detailed observations of nature to sharp comic meetings with extraterrestrials, from urgent political matters to ancient stories and folklore. Readers familiar with Atwood's fiction will recognize her wit and compassion, while newcomers discover the poetic foundation that preceded her novels.
Genres: nature, mythology, literary-fiction, collections, poetry, 21st-century
Vibes: compassionate, contemplative, introspective, lyrical, thought-provoking, witty
Tropes: cyclical-time, mythological-elements, nature-as-metaphor
Period: 21st century
124 pages · Paperback · Chatto & Windus
Content warnings: death