Cover of The Handmaid's Tale
Sci-fi

The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret AtwoodBook 1 of 2 in Gilead
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Description

In the world of the near future, who will control women's bodies? Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are only valued if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the days before, when she lived and made love with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now....

What it’s like

ViolenceGraphic
CombatPacifist/Social
HorrorChilling
SpiceFade-to-Black
ProfanityMild

Awards

1 win

Details

First published
August 1985
Pages
325
Reading time
About 7 hours
Format
Novel
Audience
Adult
Publisher
Anchor Books
Language
English
ISBN
9780385490818
Series
Gilead, Book 1

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