The Handmaid's Tale

The protagonist of The Handmaid's Tale, Offred, is a poor Handmaid in the Gilead Republic. She is permitted to leave the Colonel and his wife's residence once every day to stroll to grocery shops, whose signs no longer include words since women are not allowed to read anymore. In an era of declining pregnancies, Offred and other Handmaids are only valued if their eggs are still usable. As a result, she must lay on her back several times every month and hope that the Colonel can get her pregnant. Offred can recall the years when she used to live and make love with her beloved husband Luke; played with and cherished her daughter; and had a career, her own money, and access to information. But that is no longer her situation now.

This dystopian book by Margaret Atwood has been universally commended for its unsettling prescience of the current society. In a future America - when women are limited to their reproductive use - harsh patriarchy has dehumanized the female race.

Since its publication in 1985, more than eight million copies of The Handmaid's Tale have been sold globally, indicating that its contents are still relevant.

Author: Margaret Atwood

Year of Release: 1985

Goodread Scores: 4.12 stars (from 1,739,056 reviews)