Margaret Atwood's new novel 'The Heart Goes Last' due in Sept.

Author Margaret Atwood is pictured in Toronto on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. (Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

TORONTO -- CanLit legend Margaret Atwood will be releasing a new novel this fall.

"The Heart Goes Last" (McClelland & Stewart) will go on sale in Canada on Sept. 29.

The book is Atwood's first standalone novel since "The Blind Assassin," which was awarded the Booker Prize in 2000.

The award-winning author's short story collection "Stone Mattress" was released last year.

Atwood's new work is described as a "wickedly funny and deeply disturbing novel about a near future in which the lawful are locked up and the lawless roam free."

The prolific Toronto-based author has written more than 40 books of fiction, poetry and critical essays, including "The Handmaid's Tale," "Cat's Eye" and "Alias Grace."