A brilliant, witty, and prophetic chronicler of North American life over the past 65 years, Margaret Atwood is, without doubt, one of our greatest living authors. She has written an extraordinary body of work that continues to expand, from early novels like The Edible Woman to the famous Handmaid’s Tale and haunting short story collections. We will look at the development of her craft as we read stories from her early book Wilderness Tips (1991) and the more recent publications Stone Mattress: Nine Wicked Tales (2014 ) and Old Babes in the Wood (2023). The latter book is dedicated to her late husband and contains a linked set of seven elegiac episodes chronicling a long and loving marriage. Though best known for her fiction, Atwood is also a major poet and essayist, and we will sample poems that connect thematically to the stories. Participants will bring their thoughts, questions, and responses to the day’s reading for discussion in this in-person seminar. Readings will generally consist of one to three short stories and a couple of poems per session, with additional recommended, but not required, background readings and activities.