Niehoff XXXI: An Evening with Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood received a standing ovation even before she began speaking at the 31st Niehoff Lecture on Nov. 3.

Atwood is the author of more than 40 books of fiction, poetry and critical essays, including The Handmaid’s Tale, which has been adapted into a popular, award-winning television show and inspired political protesters in recent months. (“There are some books and characters who escape their covers,” Atwood said.) Nearly 900 people dressed up and turned out to see Atwood in conversation with author Curtis Sittenfeld, making Niehoff XXXI the largest event in the 183-year history of The Mercantile Library.

Here’s what we learned: Margaret Atwood is hilarious. She is witty and sharp, just as smart as you would imagine and as gracious as you would hope.

To begin the evening, Sittenfeld asked Atwood what brought her to writing in the first place. To answer, Atwood took us back to her childhood. Born in 1939, Atwood was raised by scientist parents in out-of-the-way places. “When it rained, you could read or you could draw and color. So I read,” Atwood said. “And I remain a voracious reader. I will read anything.

“I also had — I guess they call it today ‘pretty woke’ parents,” Atwood added. “Growing up among scientists, you wanted to search for the truth. … Is it true? Is it fair? If it isn’t true, is it fair that people should act as if it is true?”

Those questions have served as a starting point for her work.

As someone who has built a career on collecting observations, Atwood also had a request: “I beg of you, if you’re keeping a diary or journal, write down the things you think are ordinary. Those are the things people don’t write down. … Tell us what a toaster is.”

Over the course of the evening, Atwood shared her observations and insights on politics, the writing life, the perks of aging, the best way to deal with critics, and how fame is different in Canada, her home country. She stayed long after the lecture to sign books, chat and take selfies.