Books have been facing a lot of opposition this year and one author is fighting back, Margaret Atwood has made burning her book The Handmaid’s Tale impossible by planning to release an “unburnable” edition of her novel.
Unburnable Book
Atwood appeared in a short YouTube video and announced the project to flameproof her classic novel. Penguin Random House released a message about the special edition of the book.
Penguin Random House
“Across the United States and around the world, books are being challenged, banned and even burned. So we created a special edition of a book that’s been challenged and banned for decades.” Printed and bound using fireproof materials, this edition of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale was made to be completely un-burnable. It is designed to protect this vital story and stand as a powerful symbol against censorship.
The Handmaid’s Tale is one of the most banned or challenged books in schools in the United States according to the American Library Association. Atwood has seen her book come under attack by conservatives for a long time.
According to the American Library Association, The Handmaid’s Tale is among books most often challenged or banned in US schools.
Auction
The unburnable novel is going to be auctioned by Sotheby in New York until June 7. Currently, the bid is up to $48,000 as of May 25. All of the proceeds from the auction will be going to Pen America who “defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture.”
What do you make of this gesture by Atwood? And how high do you think the final bid is going to be? Personally, I love this move by her and as it is for a good cause, the more reason to celebrate it.
I love it! Great idea for a pr/charity move!