The Handmaid's Tale

In the Republic of Gilead, a theocratic totalitarian state occupying what was once the United States, fertile women called Handmaids are forced to bear children for the ruling class. Offred narrates her daily existence and her secret resistance. Atwood's chilling speculative novel is the founding text of modern feminist dystopian fiction.

The Handmaid's Tale was written by Margaret Atwood, from Canada. First published in 1985.

The Handmaid's Tale has received the following awards and honours: Women's Prize for Fiction 1985; Kirkus Reviews 1985.

The Handmaid's Tale is a well-regarded book with solid critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 66/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 2 editorial sources. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in theocracy, gender, resistance.

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The Handmaid's Tale is classified as Science Fiction. Speculative fiction exploring technology, space, the future, and society.

The Handmaid's Tale originates from Canada's literary tradition. Explore more books from Canada on our country page.