BPC Bulletin May 25, 2022

Margaret Atwood's Fireproof Novel

News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee.

In New York City, Margaret Atwood and Penguin Random House announced on May 23 that a single fireproof edition of The Handmaid’s Tale would be auctioned by Sotheby’s New York.

The Canadian author and her publisher plan to donate money from the sale to PEN America, which speaks for free expression around the world.

“To see her classic novel about the dangers of oppression reborn in this innovative, unburnable edition is a timely reminder of what’s at stake in the battle against censorship,” said Markus Dohle, CEO of Penguin Random House.

VIDEO

Watch Atwood try to torch the flameproof novel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpsMsAMY4eM

REPORTAGE

Hillel Italie of the Associated Press reports:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/burn-proof-edition-of-the-handmaid-s-tale-up-for-auction-1.5915551

In The Washington Post, Jaclyn Peiser reports:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/05/24/handmaids-tale-burn-proof-auction/

In The Guardian, Martin Pengelly reports:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/may/24/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-unburnable-edition

In The Hill, Shirin Ali reports:

https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/education/3500010-author-margaret-atwood-developed-an-unburnable-handmaids-tale-book/

In People, Sam Gillette reports:
https://people.com/human-interest/margaret-atwood-unburnable-edition-handmaids-tale/

Thanks go to Anne McClelland who suggested this news story.

The Book and Periodical Council was formed in 1975 as the Book and Periodical Development Council to provide a venue for members to discuss industry issues, address mutual concerns and undertake projects for the benefit of Canadian writing and publishing.

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