Here is a link to Margaret Atwood’s own statement on this shocking development, where she says (on her Substack):

“Everyone and their pet canary wants me to comment. But I can’t comment when I don’t know why it’s been banned. For describing what an American theological dictatorship could look like? Because it portrays evil? Is it evil to portray evil? If so, bye-bye Bible and Shakespeare. Because, as part of a power play, it perverts Christianity and rewrites the Bible , unlike anyone else, ever? Because lots of other places have banned this book and Alberta didn’t want to be left out? Because it has sex in it, even though it’s not sexy sex and anyone in Gilead of sane mind would run a mile before having any actual enjoyable sex? Because it has head coverings? Why?”

Read More on her substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/margaretatwood/p/handmaids-tale-banned-in-edmonton?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Opening address to the 91st PEN International Congress

Atwood’s text goes on to include her opening address to the 91st PEN International Congress, held in Krakow 24-27 September, 2025.