Margaret Atwood's Dearly cover revealed by Vintage

Vintage has revealed the striking cover for Margaret Atwood's new poetry book, Dearly—the writer's first collection for a decade.

The cover, posted on social media this afternoon (16th April), was designed by British sculptor Kate MccGwire, known for using natural materials in her work.

MccGwire has a fascination with birds and, true to form, the book's title and author name is nestled among blue feathers.

Released on 10th November, the book has been billed by Vintage as a “pure Atwood delight".

Its synopsis explains: "By turns moving, playful and wise, the poems gathered in Dearly are about absences and endings, ageing and retrospection, but also about gifts and renewals. They explore bodies and minds in transition, as well as the everyday objects and rituals that embed us in the present. Werewolves, sirens and dreams make their appearance, as do various forms of animal life and fragments of our damaged environment."

Becky Hardie, deputy publishing director at Chatto & Windus, acquired rights for Dearly from Karolina Sutton at Curtis Brown.

Penguin Random House Canada will also be producing the audiobook of Dearly, narrated by Atwood herself and released simultaneously with the print edition.

The new title comes in the wake of Atwood's huge success with joint Booker winner The Testaments (Vintage). It became the fastest-selling adult fiction hardback title in four years when it shifted 103,000 units in its first week and, by 22nd March 2020, the novel had sold 336,275 copies in hardback, for £4.4m.