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Cover of The Handmaid's Tale

Dystopian · Literary

The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood

4.1 out of 5, from 3,416 ratings from Hardcover readers

In a future theocracy where fertile women are assigned to elite households as breeders, one Handmaid recalls her old life while she carries out her role. Small acts of defiance are dangerous.

Facts last checked 2026-10-16

First published
1985
Pace
Slow
Length
Medium
Pages
324
Format
Book 1 of 2 in The Handmaid's Tale
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Read this if you want a chilling, intimate dystopia that feels frighteningly plausible.

Skip this if you want comfort reading, because the book's depiction of control over women's bodies is disturbing and its ending is unresolved.

The feel

Content warnings

  • Sexual assault
  • Abuse
  • Religious extremism
  • Violence
  • Death

Also reported by Hardcover readers:

  • Misogyny
  • Rape
  • Homophobia
  • Suicide
  • Grief
  • Religious Bigotry
  • Sexism
  • Sexual content

Quick answers about The Handmaid's Tale

What is The Handmaid's Tale about?
In a future theocracy where fertile women are assigned to elite households as breeders, one Handmaid recalls her old life while she carries out her role. Small acts of defiance are dangerous.
Who should read The Handmaid's Tale?
Read it if you want a chilling, intimate dystopia that feels frighteningly plausible. Skip it if you want comfort reading, because the book's depiction of control over women's bodies is disturbing and its ending is unresolved.
How long and how fast is The Handmaid's Tale?
It is a slow-paced, medium read of about 324 pages, first published in 1985.
Does The Handmaid's Tale have content warnings?
Content we flag: Sexual assault, Abuse, Religious extremism, Violence, Death.
Can I borrow The Handmaid's Tale for free?
Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Handmaid's Tale; the borrow button above searches it for you.
What should I read after The Handmaid's Tale?
Readers who liked it often move on to Nineteen Eighty-Four, Parable of the Sower, The Giver.

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