The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood

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Fawcett, 1986-12-12. Good. From Library Journal In a startling departure from her previous novels ( Lady Oracle , Surfacing ), respected Canadian poet and novelist Atwood presents here a fable of the near future. In the Republic of Gilead, formerly the United States, far-right Schlafly/Falwell-type ideals have been carried to extremes in the monotheocratic government. The resulting society is a feminist's nightmare: women are strictly controlled, unable to have jobs or money and assigned to various classes: the chaste, childless Wives; the housekeeping Marthas; and the reproductive Handmaids, who turn their offspring o. The tale is told by Offred (read: "of Fred"), a Handmaid who recalls the past and tells how the chilling society came to be. This powerful, memorable novel is highly recommended for most libraries. BOMC featured alternate. Ann H. Fisher, Radford P.L., Va. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From AudioFile Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel has seen several adaptations--a Hollywood film, an opera, and an unabridged audiobook, as well as this dramatization produced for BBC Radio 4. Not only is it well acted by an American cast (it wouldn't have worked with British voices), but the directors also make excellent use of subtle audio cues. For example, newscasts in the background nicely convey the culture of this dystopian society in which the few women who can bear children are made into surrogates. Though it's just three hours, this coherent production retains much of the flavor of the original novel. D.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.  See all Editorial Reviews Good, some cover wear .

Book summary

In this futuristic fantasy, the Republic of Gilead--formerly the United States--is a fundamentalist regime that has reduced women to a state of servitude and suppressed all civil rights. The protagonist, a woman called Offred, becomes the Handmaid of the Commander, expected to bear him a child in exchange for her freedom. Old enough to remember life before the revolution, Offred resists the new order and becomes involved in an underground resistance movement. Atwood's novel was a best seller and became the basis for a popular movie.