Margaret Eleanor Atwood is a Canadian novelist, poet, literary critic, and inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of nonfiction, nine collections of short fiction, eight children's books, two graphic novels, and a number of small press editions of both poetry and fiction. Her best-known work is the 1985 dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale. Atwood has won numerous awards and honors for her writing, including two Booker Prizes, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Governor General's Award, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award for literature, and the National Book Critics and PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Awards. A number of her works have been adapted for film and television.

1939Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington, English journalist and politician, Leader of the House of Lords^[†]

Margaret Ann Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington, is a British politician and former BBC television producer and presenter. She is a member of the Labour Party and is a daughter of James Callaghan, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979.

1939Amanda Lear, Hong Kong-French singer-songwriter and actress^[†]

Amanda Lear is a French singer, songwriter, painter, television presenter, actress and former model.

1939Brenda Vaccaro, American actress^[†]

Brenda Buell Vaccaro is an American stage, film and television actress. In a career spanning over half a century, she received one Academy Award nomination, three Golden Globe Award nominations, four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and three Tony Award nominations.

Headlines from November 18, 1939

MAYOR AND DEWEY PLACED ON STAND BY KUHN DEFENSE; CALLED TO THE STAND AT KUHN TRIAL

The International Situation

Says Bremen Will Open Soviet Line to New York

ALLIES COORDINATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY; Pool Purchases and Shipping and Agree to Share All Sacrifices Equally Council's Third Meeting British Conferees ALLIES COORDINATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY A Single Economic Unit"

Notable Births