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Margaret Atwood brandishes her caustic tongue

Poet, novelist, storywriter and essayist — the Ottawa native is a Canadian literary giant. Margaret Atwood first raised eyebrows as a young poet in the 1960s. Since then, one of Canada's most written about writers has struggled to keep her personal life private. Over her prolific career, Atwood has earned a reputation for being brilliant but aloof. But her caustic tongue and wicked sense of humour only fuel Atwood's stature as an internationally acclaimed writer.

"Can I say something very rude?" A frustrated Margaret Atwood asks CBC's Hana Gartner. She suggests Gartner is more suited to interviews about Harlequin Romances than the stories in Atwood's latest book Dancing Girls. The interview spirals downhill. The writer's infamous reputation for being testy and formidable rears itself. When Gartner confronts Atwood and asks why she is so guarded, the 37-year-old writer retorts: "You haven't asked me anything about myself." The phrase catches Gartner off guard and red-faced. 
• It's no secret Atwood doesn't like doing interviews. She has a reputation for being impatient and aloof with the media. At various times she has been called Medusa-like, the dragon lady and even a black-magic witch. — New York Times, Dec. 30, 1996

• Atwood remains tight-lipped when it comes to her personal life, especially questions about her long-time partner, writer Graeme Gibson.
• Atwood has refused to allow journalists in to her home. "They would review the furniture and some of it is Graeme's grandfather's furniture. I don't want my personality coming out like Graeme's grandfather. — New York Times, Dec. 30, 1996
Medium: Television
Program: Take 30
Broadcast Date: Sept. 27, 1977
Guest(s): Margaret Atwood
Host: Hana Gartner, Paul Soles
Duration: 19:36

Last updated: March 15, 2012

Page consulted on August 21, 2012

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