You started the book in west berlin. Wasn't that corny? Oh, yes, it was very corny. But i couldn't avoid it. If i had been able to do it in some other year, i would have,. But i just happened to be in west prede berlin. And being canadian, i could go into places like east germany and chaklosevaki and poland easier than than german nationals could. So i did, you had had a prior trip to afghanistan. Did that influence the book at all? A bit. It's always been desired by china, by russia and by anybody else in
Margaret Atwood defines the Canadian sense of humor as “a bit Scottish,” and in this live conversation with Tyler, she loves to let her own comedic sensibilities shine. In addition to many other thoughts about Canada — it’s big after all — she and Tyler discuss Twitter, biotechnology, Biblical history, her families of patents, poetry, literature, movies, and feminism.
Is it coincidence that Atwood started The Handmaid’s Tale in West Berlin during 1984? Does she believe in ghosts? Is the Western commitment to free speech waning? How does she stay so productive? Why is she against picking favorites? Atwood provides insight to these questions and much more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.
Recorded April 9th, 2019 Other ways to connect