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The Handmaid's Tale
the book that inspired the hit TV series
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 2,351,122 ratings, 116,728 reviews)
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The Handmaid's Tale
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See moreThe Republic of Gilead offers Offred only one function: to breed. If she deviates, she will, like dissenters, be hanged at the wall or sent out to die slowly of radiation sickness. But even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire - neither Offred's nor that of the two men on which her future hangs.
WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION FROM MARGARET ATWOOD
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Description
The bestselling dystopian classic that became a cultural phenomenon and inspired an award-winning TV series.
THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER
Go back to where it all began with the dystopian novel behind the award-winning TV series.
'As relevant today as it was when Atwood wrote it.' Guardian
I believe in the resistance as I believe there can be no light without shadow; or rather, no shadow unless there is also light.
Offred is a Handmaid in The Republic of Gilead, a religious totalitarian state in what was formerly known as the United States. She is placed in the household of The Commander, Fred Waterford—her assigned name, Offred, means 'of Fred'. She has only one function—to breed. If Offred refuses to enter into sexual servitude to repopulate a devastated world, she will be hanged. Yet even a repressive state cannot eradicate hope and desire. As she recalls her pre-revolution life in flashbacks, Offred must navigate through the terrifying landscape of torture and persecution in the present day, and between two men upon which her future hangs.
Masterfully conceived and executed, this haunting vision of the future places Margaret Atwood at the forefront of dystopian fiction.
'A fantastic, chilling story. And so powerfully feminist.' Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Handmaid's Tale is widely praised for its chilling narrative and powerful feminist themes. It has been described as a compulsively readable dystopian novel that critiques evangelical puritanism and the objectification of women. Reviewers highlight its sharp perceptions, sardonic wit, and evocative imagery, with Margaret Atwood noted as a perceptive storyteller who uses irony and wit to explore themes of power and control.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781784873189
Publisher: Vintage Publishing
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 25 May 2017
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Vintage Classics
Edition: Media tie-in
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 20.0mm
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 234g
Pages: 336
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About the Author
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, was followed in 2019 by a sequel, The Testaments, which was a global number one bestseller and shared the Booker Prize. Her most recent publications are the poetry collections Dearly and Paper Boat; Burning Questions, a selection of essays; and Old Babes in the Wood, a volume of short stories. Atwood is a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, and has won numerous awards including the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Imagination in Service to Society, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, the PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. She has also worked as a cartoonist, illustrator, librettist, playwright and puppeteer. She lives in Toronto, Canada.
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Compulsively readable Daily Telegraph The Sunday Times No. 1 Bestseller Discover the dystopian novel that started a phenomenon. Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She is placed in the household of The Commander, Fred Waterford - her assigned name, Offred, means 'of Fred'. She has only one function: to breed. If Offred refuses to enter into sexual...Paperback$2100Elsewhere:$2300Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
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