The Language of Margaret Atwood

This book explores Atwood’s distinctive use of language and style, across a selection of her most recent prose publications, through an extended, reader-centred and cognitive stylistic perspective. This introduction chapter outlines the stylistic context for the book and summarises the themes, frameworks and prose fiction case studies that make up the analytical chapters. With reference to Margaret Atwood’s critical reflections on writing, this opening chapter presents a stylistic exploration of three recurring metaphors underpinning her work: Writers are criminals, Writing is a journey and Books are conduits.