Canadian writer Margaret Atwood next to her Canada Post special stamp in her honour, in Toronto on Nov. 25, 2021.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Canadian author Margaret Atwood says becoming the face of a new stamp has made her the envy of all of her friends, even though some may be dismayed that she’s alive to accept the honour.
Canada Post launched a commemorative stamp celebrating the literary legend at a Toronto event on Thursday, which included speeches by filmmaker Sarah Polley and activist Ceta Ramkhalawansingh.
The stamp features a photo of Atwood resting her hand on her face, with her famous line “a word after a word after a word is power” repeated in the background.
Atwood told the crowd at the Toronto Reference Library that the tribute has inspired “stamp envy” among her peers, including one who exclaimed, “you’re not even dead yet.”
The 82-year-old noted that plenty of living luminaries are featured on Canadian postage, but said she doubted that fact would allay the outrage about her “lack of deadness.”
One of Canada’s most prolific and decorated writers, Atwood’s bibliography spans more than 50 books of poetry, fiction, criticism, essays and graphic novels.
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