The Handmaid's Tale

In this multi-award-winning, bestselling novel, Margaret Atwood has created a stunning Orwellian vision of the near future. This is the story of Offred, one of the unfortunate "Handmaids" under the new social order who have only one purpose: to breed. In Gilead, where women are prohibited from holding jobs, reading, and forming friendships, Offred's persistent memories of life in the "time before" and her will to survive are acts of rebellion. Provocative, startling, prophetic, and with Margaret Atwood's devastating irony, wit, and acute perceptive powers in full force, The Handmaid's Tale is at once a mordant satire and a dire warning. (From McClelland & Stewart)

The Handmaid's Tale received many accolades when it was first published, winning the 1985 Governor General's Award for fiction. It was also a finalist in the inaugural edition of Canada Reads in2002. It was defended by Kim Campbell.

A sequel toThe Handmaid's Taleiscoming out in Sept. 2019. It will be calledThe Testamentsand will be set 15 years after the original story.

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From the book

Interviews with Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood talks about RWB adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale

11 years ago

Duration 0:18

Author Margaret Atwood speaks at McNally Robinson Booksellers hours before the Royal Winnipeg Ballet debuts a ballet adaptation of her novel, The Handmaid's Tale.

The Handmaid's Tale ballet

10 years ago

Duration 2:12

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet performs The Handmaid's Tale at the NAC from Jan. 22 to 24.

More about The Handmaid's Tale

Other books by Margaret Atwood