Tag Archives: Canadian literary royalty

Winner of the Man Booker Prize in 2000, The Blind Assassin may be Margaret Atwood’s most famous novel on the international stage, but it’s by no means her only literary success in a career that has spanned more than half a century. Novelist, short story writer, businesswoman, mentor, environmentalist – there’s apparently nothing Ms. Atwood can’t do. Today, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje and Alice Munro form the triumvirate of Canadian literary royalty.

Here’s a snippet of writing gold from her award-winning novel:

“But thoughtless ingratitude is the armour of the young; without it, how would they ever get through life?…Without the protection of surliness and levity, all children would be crushed by the past – the past of others, loaded onto their shoulders. Selfishness is their saving grace.”