You Are Happy - Margaret Atwood - 1974

In this uncommon, piercing collection of poems, Margaret Atwood demonstrates the razor-sharp insight and linguistic precision that would later define her as one of North America's most essential literary voices. "You Are Happy" confronts the complex terrain of human relationships, gender dynamics, and the often-contradictory nature of happiness itself with unflinching clarity and startling imagery. Atwood's verses navigate between mythology and modernity, transforming ancient archetypes into powerful lenses through which to examine contemporary power struggles between men and women. She dissects domestic scenes, romantic encounters, and natural landscapes to reveal the undercurrents of manipulation, desire, and disconnection that lie beneath seemingly ordinary interactions. The collection's title reverberates with irony throughout, questioning whether happiness is a genuine state, a cultural command, or merely a mask we wear. Written during a pivotal period in Atwood's career, this work showcases her evolving feminist consciousness and her remarkable ability to transform personal observation into universal insight. - You Are Happy - Margaret Atwood Published 1974, John Deyell/Oxford University Press, Toronto Softcover. Approx. 5.5x8.5in. 96pp. Front cover has small tear at bottom. In generally good vintage condition.