Atwood: The Handmaid’s Tale No Longer Feels Fiction

Margaret Atwood, the two‑time Booker Prize winner, spoke with France 24’s Eve Jackson about the growing erosion of democracy, women’s rights and free expression. In the interview, the author reflected on how her speculative fiction has come to mirror contemporary political realities, noting that many readers now see the world as having caught up with the dystopian scenarios she has warned about for decades.

Atwood highlighted the impact of President Donald Trump’s administration on civil liberties, citing the expansion of book bans across the United States and the rollback of reproductive rights as key examples of censorship in action. She explained her decision to burn an “unburnable” edition of *The Handmaid’s Tale* as a symbolic protest against the book’s suppression, underscoring her belief that literature must remain accessible and unimpeded by political forces.

The interview underscores Atwood’s continued relevance as a commentator on authoritarian trends. By linking her fiction to current events, she reinforces the importance of vigilance in protecting democratic institutions and the freedom of expression that underpin them.