Literary icon and esteemed thinker Margaret Atwood is set to return to Calgary this winter, at the Werklund Centre, as one of only three planned tour dates in 2025.
Wordfest is bringing Atwood to the Jack Singer Concert Hall on Dec. 10, as part of her tour for the much anticipated Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, which is set to be released in November.
The return of Atwood to Wordfest was apt, said Wordfest CEO and ringleader Shelley Youngblut, as the festival of all things literary began 30 years ago—literally—with Atwood.
“Her participation in our first festival 30 years ago set the tone for everything that followed. Her new memoir is pure Atwood—smart, wide-ranging, hilarious—and initial interest in this show has been among the most enthusiastic in our history. We’re expecting a packed house of Atwood superfans,” Youngblut said, via prepared media release.
That appearance was at the inaugural 1996 Wordfest, which had some of its artifacts on display earlier this year at the Central Library as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations.
Tickets for the evening with Atwood event go on sale on Aug. 12. Copies of Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, along with other curated Atwood titles, will be available for sale in the lobby during the evening.
According to Wordfest, there would be no book signing occurring after the conclusion of the talk.
Proceeds from the show will be used for Wordfest’s Youth Program, which connects students from Grades 5 through 12 to inspiring authors.
Past authors have included Sarah Polley, Ali Velshi, Yann Martel, Cadence Weapon, and Tegan and Sara.
Wordfest will be bringing over 50 authors, at over 40 events this fall, as part of the Imaginarium Festival, taking place from Oct. 14 through 19.
