country of Canada itself also has a prominent role that acts as an additional character with her experiences in Toronto. The English monarchy is featured as a vivid childhood influence with a young Queen Elizabeth II's perceived bravery and aplomb after World War II. Allusions to Atwood's life Atwood began Cat's Eye in 1964 but put away the novel until the late 1980s. By that time, her daughter was a teenager, and Atwood had had the opportunity to observe the social dynamics of a group of young girls and boys. The book is sometimes seen as containing autobiographical elements. For example, like Risley, Atwood is the daughter of an entomologist. However, Atwood has rarely, if ever, commented on the similarities directly. See also Southern Ontario Gothic Further reading Brian Busby. Character Parts: Who's Really Who in Canlit. Toronto: Knopf, 2003. p. 37, 162, 218–19. . References External links Cat's Eye listing at randomhouse.com Reading Group Guide 1989 Booker Prize Archive 1988 Canadian novels Novels by Margaret Atwood Novels set in Toronto Novels about artists McClelland & Stewart books