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The Handmaid's Tale Paperback – March 16, 1998

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 162,198 ratings

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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An instant classic and eerily prescient cultural phenomenon, from “the patron saint of feminist dystopian fiction” (The New York Times). Now an award-winning Hulu series starring Elizabeth Moss.

Look for
The Testaments, the bestselling, award-winning the sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale

In Margaret Atwood’s dystopian future, environmental disasters and declining birthrates have led to a Second American Civil War. The result is the rise of the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that enforces rigid social roles and enslaves the few remaining fertile women. Offred is one of these, a Handmaid bound to produce children for one of Gilead’s commanders. Deprived of her husband, her child, her freedom, and even her own name, Offred clings to her memories and her will to survive. At once a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense,
The Handmaid’s Tale is a modern classic.

Includes an introduction by Margaret Atwood
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A novel that brilliantly illuminates some of the darker interconnections between politics and sex . . . Just as the world of Orwell's 1984 gripped our imaginations, so will the world of Atwood's handmaid!" —The Washington Post Book World

"
The Handmaid's Tale deserves the highest praise." —San Francisco Chronicle

"Atwood takes many trends which exist today and stretches them to their logical and chilling conclusions . . . An excellent novel about the directions our lives are taking . . . Read it while it's still allowed." —
Houston Chronicle

"Splendid." —
Newsweek

From the Inside Flap

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....

Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing,
The Handmaid's Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; 1st Anchor Books edition (March 16, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 311 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 038549081X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385490818
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 750L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.18 x 0.7 x 7.95 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 162,198 ratings

About the author

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Margaret Atwood
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Margaret Atwood is the author of more than fifty books of fiction, poetry and critical essays. Her novels include Cat's Eye, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin and the MaddAddam trilogy. Her 1985 classic, The Handmaid's Tale, went back into the bestseller charts with the election of Donald Trump, when the Handmaids became a symbol of resistance against the disempowerment of women, and with the 2017 release of the award-winning Channel 4 TV series. ‘Her sequel, The Testaments, was published in 2019. It was an instant international bestseller and won the Booker Prize.’

Atwood has won numerous awards including the Booker Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Imagination in Service to Society, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade and the PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019 she was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to literature. She has also worked as a cartoonist, illustrator, librettist, playwright and puppeteer. She lives in Toronto, Canada.

Photo credit: Liam Sharp

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
162,198 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book readable and engaging. They appreciate the thought-provoking premise and world-building. The narrative is described as compelling and powerful. Many readers appreciate the feminist themes and empowerment message for women. Opinions vary on the writing quality, with some finding it well-written and unique, while others find it difficult to read or too close. There are mixed opinions on the ending, with some finding it incredible and amazing, while others feel it disengaged the story.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

3,841 customers mention "Readability"3,061 positive780 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They appreciate the believable characters and relatable actions. The world is well-developed and the story is described as a page-turner.

"...and her observations of self, other, and society are so clear and beautiful, so bleak, sad and yet hopeful - so compelling - in making us see these..." Read more

"...Still, as a matter of clear, simple storytelling, it rocks. And it’s thankfully short with its cliffhanger, though the epilogue really doesn’t help." Read more

"...The Handmaid's Tale is true literature, thus by practical definition, this makes the story a little slow and boring at points...." Read more

"...It's a good book, it just has its problems." Read more

1,581 customers mention "Thought provoking"1,484 positive97 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking. They appreciate the interesting premise and world-building. The novel is described as a powerful cautionary tale that interconnects politics with reproducing. Readers find it a well-done work of dystopian fiction that feels less speculative than other works.

"...And yet. There is compassion - much compassion - in this book not just for Offred but for each of her persecutors; and a perfectly clear view, of..." Read more

"...The subtext of The Handmaid's tale is a marvellously thought provoking book about the subtleties that go into how societies change, but if you're..." Read more

"...Atwood’s writing is sharp, poetic, and thought-provoking, tackling themes of power, freedom, and identity with chilling relevance...." Read more

"...political climate we now find ourselves living with, the story feels less speculative, almost less fictional...." Read more

212 customers mention "Storytelling"172 positive40 negative

Customers enjoy the compelling storytelling. They find the premise intriguing and appreciate the author's powerful narrative technique that immerses them in the story. The book is described as a cautionary tale masquerading as fiction, with detailed scenes.

"...Still, as a matter of clear, simple storytelling, it rocks. And it’s thankfully short with its cliffhanger, though the epilogue really doesn’t help." Read more

"...The narrative technique used by Atwood is powerful, as it keeps us in Offred's head at all times, almost trapped with her in her prison of red...." Read more

"...How Offred’s character, past, and present weave together is amazing and just builds on each other...." Read more

"...Sex scenes are described in detail, as well as many sexual themes. I wouldn’t recommend the book to teenagers, more of an adult read." Read more

199 customers mention "Gender content"161 positive38 negative

Customers find the book's gender content positive. They appreciate its feminist perspective and women's empowerment. The book challenges views on women's roles in society and provides a powerful meditation on the role of women in society. However, some readers feel the book is too pro-feminist and anti-religious, challenging the subordination of women to their husbands.

"...such a harsh, unforgiving, and shockingly cruel environment - the brutal honesty with which that voice speaks to the horrors and impossible..." Read more

"...I consider this a must-read for every woman, and man who will be left without a wife or forced to give up all children from their marriage......" Read more

"...monologues of the protagonist Offred make the novel a required read for the onlooker who wishes to delve into the complex thought processes of the..." Read more

"...Liberal feminism is displayed throughout the book in many areas, but it is most evident when June is taken to a place called Jezebel’s...." Read more

1,598 customers mention "Writing quality"1,030 positive568 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality. Some find it well-written and relatable, connecting with the author's style. Others find it difficult to read due to harsh, ambiguous words, fragmented sentences, and odd punctuation.

"...book not just for Offred but for each of her persecutors; and a perfectly clear view, of each person in Offred's life, from the patriarchy which..." Read more

"...Still, as a matter of clear, simple storytelling, it rocks. And it’s thankfully short with its cliffhanger, though the epilogue really doesn’t help." Read more

"...And nothing about this book can be described as pleasant. The words stark, horrific, prophetic, terrifying and too-close-for-comfort spring to..." Read more

"I liked the pacing and I really liked the style of writing. I think I'd have to read it again to understand it better though." Read more

1,469 customers mention "Ending"734 positive735 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the ending. Some find it incredible and engaging, with a gradual revelation. Others feel the story is presented too didactically and lacks excitement. The narrative has a slow start, but if you stick with it, you'll get a bang at the end.

"...other, and society are so clear and beautiful, so bleak, sad and yet hopeful - so compelling - in making us see these people...." Read more

"...because she barely sounds like she misses them. The narrative skips around a lot, back and forth through time, often from paragraph to..." Read more

"...22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control...." Read more

"...This is not a fun story, nor is it exciting or clever. It is scary, dark, and unforgiving...." Read more

1,001 customers mention "Scariness level"584 positive417 negative

Customers have different views on the book's scariness level. Some find it disturbing and frightening, while others describe it as terrifying and creepy.

"...She has no roads but dead ends; no feelings but pain, isolation, and tragic loss; in a society which both reviles her and yet absolutely, completely..." Read more

"...Two things I found very disturbing about the book. The first is the way the women treated each other...." Read more

"...The haunting world of Gilead and Offred’s powerful, heartbreaking story make this a must-read...." Read more

"Great writing. Sad and scary theme. Good book and a good read, that you won’t want to put down." Read more

282 customers mention "Character development"170 positive112 negative

Customers have different views on the character development. Some find it well-developed and relatable, with enigmatic characters. Others feel the characters are stilted, robotic, predictable, and difficult to engage with. There are also complaints about the lack of autonomy for some characters.

"...For 95% of the novel, you are intimately involved, inside the head of poor Offred, witnessing and hearing and experiencing her world first hand..." Read more

"...it was to really emphasize the lack of person, the lack of autonomy the various characters had, especially the handmaidens...." Read more

"...The characters were fleshed-out and believable, yet by the end of the story I could not tell you how most of them grew or changed over the course of..." Read more

"...So, in this sense, Offred became an interesting character one could readily identify with and follow...." Read more

A Chilling and Timely Classic!
5 out of 5 stars
A Chilling and Timely Classic!
Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a gripping dystopian masterpiece that stays with you long after the last page. The haunting world of Gilead and Offred’s powerful, heartbreaking story make this a must-read. Atwood’s writing is sharp, poetic, and thought-provoking, tackling themes of power, freedom, and identity with chilling relevance. If you’re looking for a novel that’s both captivating and deeply meaningful, this is it!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2019
    I will admit - Over the years, 'Handmaid' was one of those books everyone had told me just HAD to be read - but with the clear discomfort they'd show in saying that, I always thought - Nope; not for me. I'm just not one for the whole dystopian thing; I need to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
    Fast forward to last week - this book being required for my daughter's Eng Lit class, and sitting available while I was at loose ends in a Starbucks for several hours - I thought, Why not?... and how glad I am, that I had those few hours. Wow. I was gone, hook line and sinker, from the first page on.

    Handmaid is set in, yes, a dystopian future in which women's place in the world has been subverted, through various events which resonate awfully closely with current times. The story picks up at the moment when Offred (a concatenation of her "owner's" name and her position in this society) is assigned to a new home in a city in America, for reasons that become all too clear within a few short pages. Her experiences within this new environment, interwoven with her recollection of her past before this societal apocalypse, unveil themselves like the layers of an onion - a never-ending interweaving of recollections and current experiences which, in their close parallels with so much that seems to be happening in our current world, make it not just an uncomfortable read, as so many other reviewers have said; but an eerily prescient one for these times.

    I could go on about that aspect of what makes this such a valuable read for any person over the age of 10 years old, but I'm quite sure many of the 1,000 + prior reviewers will have spoken to that far more effectively than I ever could. But for me, what makes this book so great is the Voice that the protagonist gains as she struggles in such a harsh, unforgiving, and shockingly cruel environment - the brutal honesty with which that voice speaks to the horrors and impossible personal choices that any of us would have to make, faced with such a savagely misogynistic society. There is no turning away from those realities in this book; Offred is, clearly, no better than any of us; but, she is, perhaps, more honest about her choices than any of us would ever manage to be. She has no roads but dead ends; no feelings but pain, isolation, and tragic loss; in a society which both reviles her and yet absolutely, completely, stunningly, needs her.

    And yet. There is compassion - much compassion - in this book not just for Offred but for each of her persecutors; and a perfectly clear view, of each person in Offred's life, from the patriarchy which dictates every aspect of the lives of the Americans; to the women with whom she is forced to share the household; to the man who runs their lives - and in theory owns Offred, body and soul. Margaret Atwood has managed to capture the complete horror of this situation and yet the complete spectrum of needs and innate humanness - warts and all - of each of the players in this world, speaking with true sight not only about what they each do, but the real WHY of it, like a series of ornate but utterly constrained chess pieces moved about in a deadly game by unseen hands.

    Atwood's brilliance with the written word, the layers of meaning she assigns to so many individual words, is a both a challenge and a complete delight, no matter how difficult the topics she makes us consider. Each page is like unwrapping a gift of many layers of brightly colored paper, never knowing what you will ultimately find inside: something to treasure, or something to fear. Offred's voice and her observations of self, other, and society are so clear and beautiful, so bleak, sad and yet hopeful - so compelling - in making us see these people. There are many phrases and visions Atwood has generated that will stay with me, now, for life. I cannot say I am in all cases glad of that - but I know i am richer for it. And in reading many of the current, more negative responses of the Amazon reading community, I cannot help but wonder if their dislike of the book is in many cases driven precisely from Atwood's artistry with words. She holds up not a picture for us to view, but a mirror to reflect realities that in many cases no one in their right mind would want to see - they are far too close, too personal, too true. And yet - we MUST look.

    I do not see, as some others do, a depressing endgame in this book; quite the opposite. Offred's determination to survive no matter what the cost and her slow but relentless growth to her own form of power and eventual rebellion, is not so much a story as a roadmap. We could all do well by, like Offred, looking with clear eyes at this dystopian imagining. If, at the end of the day, this book leaves you uncomfortable or depressed or angry - good, if at the same time it also manages to leave you unsettled. Atwood's intent was never to entertain you but to inform you - and that, she does with a master's deft hand.

    Three days and counting. What will we learn in Atwood's new book? I look forward, with a perfectly uncomfortable blend of anticipation and anxiety, dread and hope, to the answer to that question.
    52 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2024
    Brilliant in ways, but monotonal in its mundanity much of the time, intentional or not. Not sure if it has a point, as superficially introspective as its protagonist is at times, or how fatuous the cheeky denouement. But somehow, like Hemingway, there seems to be meaning lurking below the reportage. As I reflect even a split second on this last notion, I say “nah, there’s nothing there”, more form over content. Still, as a matter of clear, simple storytelling, it rocks. And it’s thankfully short with its cliffhanger, though the epilogue really doesn’t help.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013
    The Handmaid's Tale is a relatively "old" book in that it was first published in 1985, but it is still popular/well-known. This is not surprising as Margaret Atwood is one of those author’s whose work will endure as "literature" and she will still be well known in 100 years. That is, unless the Handmaid's Tale is prophetic and all secular literature is burned.

    Don't worry, it won't be. However, it does have some elements that could be argued as being a caricature of modern day happenings. There are plenty of reviews out there that give a run down of the plot and how they feel it's all happening right now. No doubt many of these reviews are from women, and justifiably so since this book "speaks to them". So I'm going to discuss the subtext of the novel, and hopefully, I can get a few guys to read this book because there is stuff in it for them.

    The background story is that The United States has been taken over by religious fundamentalists. The religion is never mentioned by name, but it is clearly Christian/Jewish/Islamic. When it comes to their respective flavors of fundamentalism, they all bear a striking resemblance to one another whether they want to admit it or not. This is not surprising, since they all worship the same god and use overlapping religious texts. If you're curious about the tale of how this happened, this is not the book for you. After all, this is the Handmaid's Tale. All you get is the story of one woman starting probably about 10 years after an event called "The President's Day Massacre", i.e. the coup where the fundamentalists took over.

    Personally, I do not think such a regime could take over in such a simple manner, but what followed after the coup is more plausible. As I said, we don't get much of this story directly, but we hear snippets of how, slowly, over the course of weeks and months, oppressive policies are implemented and they are always implemented for the same reasons that such policies are implemented today. Namely, the safety of the public, the betterment of society, etc. At the same time, women are slowly and unequally stripped of their rights.

    If you think that women could never be usurped of their identities in this way, and no one would stand for it, blah, blah, blah. You are wrong. All it takes is the right social pressure. Imagine a scenario where the number of women capable of bearing children is cut to a small percentage. They then become a "national resource". (My words, not the author's.) When it comes to resources, there will always be people (usually men, and this is coming from a man) in power who will want to exploit and seize control of such resources. This is how such things can happen. And this is the scenario used by Atwood in The Handmaid's Tale.

    When I was younger, I probably would never have bought that line of reasoning and not terribly enjoyed this story. As I've aged to a venerable 40 years and some of my Platonic idealism has tarnished, I have learned to accept that "the masses" don't get as outraged as individuals do. Most of the time, groups of people are scared when it comes to dramatic change and accept it if fed the line that it is temporary and for the good of all. Most of the time, these changes are never about being for the good of all, they are simply about control.

    A past example to show even women are not above this: The Temperance movement to abolish alcohol. Propelled by religious minded women, fresh with their new ability to vote. Despite Jesus being pro-wine they felt it their duty to rid the world of drink. You can argue the details all you want, but at the end of the day, it was about asserting power and control.

    A modern example: For the past 12 years, the U. S. citizens have been force fed the line that we are all living under a faceless threat of "Terror" and in this time we have fought two wars, one of which we are still fighting, and most of us don't really know why, other than we are "fighting terror". These wars are not as openly covered as the Vietnam War, because our government has learned that atrocities that are not visited daily are quickly forgotten because people prefer to stick their head in the sand. And so people forget. They don't get outraged. They simply accept the situation because it is supposedly temporary, for the good of us all, for all our safety, blah, blah, blah. What are we looking to control? Some say oil, others say that the area is strategically located real estate. Regardless, it is about control.

    So do I think a "fast coup" could take over and make such radical changes? No. But a slow insidious change over the course of a decade or two? Well, I have seen it with my own eyes, so yes, the scenario in The Handmaid's Tale is plausible to me, but I know that such a shift would happen over years, not months. Anyone who thinks otherwise is sticking their fingers in their ears, closing their eyes, and repeating the above blah, blah, blahs.

    A possible future example that's been a long time in the making: During the 80's (my youth) religious fundamentalists (in this country) blew up abortion clinics because they were outraged and wanted change. Presumably, they wanted things to return to the way they were when abortions were illegal, in back allies with coat hangers. Just in my lifetime, they have since learned that getting people upset only motivates them to stand with or against you. And if you're the one blowing up teenagers, it's tough to motivate people to stand with you. They have taken their fight political, a realm where everybody's eyes glaze over and become dispassionate, and they have slowly set about making laws against birth control and abortion clinics. As someone who is pro-choice, I can't say all of these laws are bad. Many are simply requiring clinics to uphold standard medical cleanliness practices. The laws that really hurt, are the laws that reduce or eliminate funding preventing the clinics from having the money to be able to upgrade their facilities and are forced to shut down. You can tell this is about the control of others and not about any religious objection because the number one cited religious reason is the belief that life begins at conception. Rather than supporting research for birth control that simply prevents conception, they politically attack all avenues of abortion and birth control. So even if you address their concerns, it does not change the way they behave.

    Leaving the examples and subtext behind, back to the story at hand. The Handmaid's Tale is true literature, thus by practical definition, this makes the story a little slow and boring at points. When I was in college, I had to take plenty of slow and boring classes that I thought were of minimal value. However, I quickly learned that it is possible to garner lessons from and learn something from every class and that is what I set out to do. I took it upon myself to walk away with something for my time and money. This book requires that same model of thought. Even after 28 years, there is a wealth of intriguing thought experiments that went into the writing of this story and a similar trove for those willing to consider the next step of reasoning, but you have to be willing to dig for that gold.

    And there you have it. The subtext of The Handmaid's tale is a marvellously thought provoking book about the subtleties that go into how societies change, but if you're not interested in thinking, move on to something formulated for entertainment purposes this is not the novel for you.
    198 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Cath in Courtenay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Such a timely read!
    Reviewed in Canada on November 27, 2024
    Margaret Atwood is an incredible wordsmith and I am thoroughly enjoying this novel! Well done!
  • Cat
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and Thought-Provoking – A Must-Read Classic
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2024
    I picked up The Handmaid's Tale as a big fan of the hit television series. I initially listened to the audiobook, drawn in by Elisabeth Moss’s portrayal of Offred, but I was eager to dive deeper into the original text. This novel offers fantastic writing that captures your attention from the very first page.

    Pros:
    • Engaging writing that keeps you hooked throughout the story
    • Richly developed world with elements of fantasy that feel relevant to our reality
    • Thought-provoking commentary on society, reflecting themes that resonate deeply
    • Beautiful hardcover design with a dust jacket that enhances its aesthetic appeal
    • Offers layers of meaning that unfold as you immerse yourself in the narrative

    Cons:
    • The heavy themes and dystopian elements may not be for everyone
    • Some readers may find the pacing slow in certain parts, as the world-building is intricate
  • Gladys
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
    Reviewed in India on September 26, 2024
    For those who like dystopia and thrilling suspensive atmosphere.
  • Benramdane R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bon livre
    Reviewed in Belgium on September 22, 2024
    Rien à dire
  • Mourierski
    5.0 out of 5 stars Très bon livre
    Reviewed in France on January 1, 2024
    J'ai du le lire quand j'étais en licence d'anglais, livre de très bonne qualité.