Margaret Atwood has won Germany's 2017 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for her "political intuition and a deeply perceptive ability to detect dangerous and underlying developments."

The €25,000 (approx. $37,000 Cdn) prize has been awarded since 1950 and honours those who "reflect the German book trade's commitment to the promotion of international understanding." The prize is funded entirely by donations from booksellers and publishers.

"Humanity, justice and tolerance are the unvarying characteristics of Atwood's work," a statement from the Board of Trustees of the prize said. "Through her, we experience who we are, where we stand and what responsibilities we carry with regard to ourselves and our peaceful coexistence with others."

Atwood is the first Canadian to receive the award. Past recipients include Orhan Pamuk, Susan Sontag, Chinua Achebe and Amos Oz .

Atwood is one of Canada's most celebrated writers. She's won the Governor General's Literary Award, the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Man Booker Prize.

More recently, she received the 2016 PEN Pinter Prize for her political activism and the Chicago Public Library award for her contributions to literary culture.

Atwood will receive the award on Oct. 15, 2017 at the Frankfurt Book Fair.