Book of Lives

A Memoir of Sorts

By: Margaret Atwood

Narrated by: Margaret Atwood

Brought to you by Penguin.

The greatest writer of our time tells her own story. Immerse yourself in the creative universe of Margaret Atwood for a riot of life, art and everything in between

Raised by scientifically minded parents, Atwood spent most of each year in the wild forest of northern Quebec: a vast playground for her entomologist father and independent, resourceful mother. It was an unfettered and nomadic childhood, sometimes isolated but also thrilling and beautiful.

From this unconventional start, Atwood unfolds the story of her life, linking key moments to the books that have shaped our literary landscape, from the cruel school year that would become Cat’s Eye to the unease of 1980s Berlin, where she began The Handmaid’s Tale. In pages alive with the natural world, reading and books, major political turning points and her lifelong love for the charismatic writer Graeme Gibson, we meet poets, bears, Hollywood stars and larger-than-life characters straight from the pages of an Atwood novel.

As she explores her past, Atwood reveals more and more about her writing, the connections between real life and art – and the workings of one of our boldest imaginations.

'She's taken our times and made us wise to them' ALI SMITH
'She's Margaret Atwood and she can do anything' ANN PATCHETT
'She saw it all coming' TIME
'The outstanding novelist of our age' SUNDAY TIMES

© Margaret Atwood 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critic reviews

Sharp, funny and engaging (Blake Morrison)

I can’t recommend Book of Lives enough… it’s the book we’ve been waiting for. Take my word for it. It’s fabulous (Dua Lipa)

Fat and satisfying (Erica Wagner)

Just in time for Christmas... One of the most deliciously engaging memoirs of the decade (Nilanjana Roy)

An intimate, beautifully told journey that captures the essence of a remarkable life

Fiercely funny tales from a literary mafia don... as pacy and fascinating as any of her books (India Block)

The real Margaret Atwood is sentimental, blunt and deliciously naughty (Francesca Steel)

2025's most anticipated non-fiction

A remarkable read... successfully puts time in a bottle

A tremendous showcase for her wisdom and wit (Fiona Sturges)

Good writing but needs editing

An enjoyable tale with lots of interesting details and stories but would greatly benefit from some editing to deal with exhaustion syndrome. A feisty old bird with wise old owl anecdotes.