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PEN and politics

Broadcast Date: May 6, 1985

Throughout her life, Margaret Atwood has been actively involved in numerous political causes including Amnesty International and the Writer's Union of Canada. In the 1980s Atwood helped found the English chapter of PEN Canada, an international organization devoted to fighting for jailed and oppressed writers. As president of PEN, Atwood has agreed to an interview about the upcoming benefit.

"It's hard to be just a writer in this day and age," Atwood tells CBC's Valerie Pringle. But Atwood seems pleased to be talking about the PEN fundraiser, which will feature readings from the Canadian literati including Robertson Davies, Timothy Findley and Alice Munro.

PEN and politics

• PEN Canada was founded in 1926 in Montreal. In 1983, an English-language chapter of PEN Canada, was set up in Toronto.
• When PEN International was founded in 1921, the letters originally stood for Poets, Playwrights, Essayists and Novelists. It has since expanded to include playwrights, publishers, translators, editors and screenwriters. PEN is the only worldwide organization of writers advocating free speech.

• In 1987, Atwood compiled The CanLit Foodbook: From Pen to Palate— A Collection of Tasty Literary Fare. Part recipes, part poetry and part musings, the proceeds from the eccentric cookbook benefited PEN Canada.
•"For some reason, nobody seems to write much about lunch. I don't know the reason for this. Perhaps it's too late in the day for poets and not late enough for novelists..." — Margaret Atwood in The Canlit Foodbook

PEN and politics

Medium: Television

Program: Midday

Broadcast Date: May 6, 1985

Guest(s): Margaret Atwood

Host: Valerie Pringle

Duration: 4:46

Last updated:
Nov. 30, 2004