Life Before Man

infobox Book |
name = Life Before Man
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Margaret Atwood
illustrator =
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country = Canada
language = English
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genre =
publisher = McClelland and Stewart
release_date = 1979
english_release_date =
media_type = Print
pages =
isbn =
preceded_by = Lady Oracle
followed_by = Bodily Harm

"Life Before Man" is a novel by Canadian writer Margaret Atwood. It was first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1979. It was a finalist for the 1979 Governor General's Award.

The novel has three main characters, Nate, Elizabeth and Lesje. Nate and Elizabeth are an unhappily married couple, and are both having extramarital affairs. Lesje, pronounced 'Lashia,' is Nate's lover of Ukrainian ancestry and a coworker of Elizabeth's; Elizabeth's lover, Chris, has just committed suicide.

All three of the main characters are narrators. Each chapter presents events from one character's perspective.

Elizabeth and Lesje both work in the museum of natural history. Lesje, a paleontologist, is fascinated by dinosaurs, giving the book its title.

Shirley Gibson, ex-wife of Atwood's husband Graeme Gibson, has been cited as the inspiration for the character Elizabeth. [Citation |last=Busby |first=Brian |authorlink=Brian Busby |title=Character Parts: Who's Really Who in CanLit |year=2003 |isbn= 0-676-97579-8 ]

Reception and reviews

Feminist author Marilyn French gave this novel a glowing review in the New York Times, calling it a "splendid, fully integrated work." [Citation |last=French |first=Marilyn |authorlink=Marilyn French |title=Spouses And Lovers |date=February 3, 1980 |journal=The New York Times |accessdate=2007-08-25 ]

References