The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood

Hardcover, 311 pages

English language

Published Feb. 17, 1986 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

ISBN:: 978-0-395-40425-6
OCLC Number:: 12558693
ASIN:: B003JFJHTS

(11 reviews)

The Handmaid's Tale is not only a radical and brilliant departure for Margaret Atwood, it is a novel of such power that the reader will be unable to forget its images and its forecast. Set in the near future, it describes life in what was once the United States, now called the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy that has reacted to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate by reverting to, and going beyond, the repressive intolerance of the original Puritans. The regime takes the Book of Genesis absolutely at its word, with bizarre consequences for the women and men of its population.

The story is told through the eyes of Offred, one of the unfortunate Handmaids under the new social order. In condensed but eloquent prose, by turns cool-eyed, tender, despairing, passionate, and wry, she reveals to us the dark corners behind the establishment's calm facade, as certain tendencies now in existence are carried to their logical conclusions. The Handmaid's Tale is funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing. It is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force. It is Margaret Atwood at her best.

47 editions

Magnesium reviewed La servante écarlate by Margaret Atwood (Pavillons)

Not so speculative fiction

5 stars

I was warned this book is not a fun one. Indeed it is not.

You get to see the omnipresent fear and violence of a patriarchal surveillance state. You get to see how it got there, little by little, and how it got accepted. The disturbing part is that it is very much believable...

I hadn't seen since Orwell's "1984" the effect of a totalitarian system on an individual so well described, especially at an individual level. You get to see how a single mind resists or breaks when faced with such overwhelming brutal and oppressive environment.

It is definitely worth reading, especially when you keep in mind the fact that Atwood has been censored in several US states.

Cheri reviewed The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Review of "The Handmaid's Tale" on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

I found this book mostly fascinating and terrifying. With our current political and religious culture this could be a possible future.

I loved the prose and Claire Danes was perfect as narrator. I would absolutely read it again. Maybe with my eyes next time.

I did have to take a short break because it was so heavy emotionally. That's not to say there's much in the way of emotional writing because the narrator, Offred, is not emotive in her telling. She's sharing her story in a direct way. Well, direct in that she's giving facts and reasons behind her decisions. There are a few places where she gives her more personal feelings but she tries to keep it to a minimum. I think this forced me to experience my own emotions rather than feed off of hers.

I'm glad I finally read it.

sculpin reviewed The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Review of "The Handmaid's Tale" on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

This was my first read of an Atwood novel, and one which I chose as it is on the "Image Magazine top 100 books of the 20th century" list. I can see why the image folks appreciated the novel, lyrical prose, dark layered characters, and a very creative addition to the genre of dystopic science fiction. I'd recommend this as a read to anyone who found Cormack McCarthy's "The Road" to be just a bit too stark, but still appreciates the genre. Atwood only hints, though cleverly, at the industrial disasters which cause the social-breakdown that the novel subtly records, but it is a nonetheless convincing tale.