By Slanted Light

I'm not sure the term 'literary fiction' is that old. I don't remember it from my youth for certain. Books were books. I wonder if it was termed to differentiate themselves from genre fiction, on the basis that they considered their writing to be more serious, and thus more worthwhile, than for instance sci-fi or crime yarns. The term certainly has the whiff of snobbery about it to me. Genre fiction is also hugely popular and I suspect there may be some resentment of that fact.

Yes, I think you're right, it was Atwood. And I agree, she should be thrilled and delighted that her book has reached a far wider audience than it might otherwise have done.