The Handmaid’s TaleThe Handmaid’s Tale
Score Classic
What it's about
In the Republic of Gilead, a theocracy that has overthrown the United States government, women have been stripped of their rights, and a falling birth rate has led the regime to assign fertile women to powerful men as handmaids, whose only purpose is to bear children. Offred, the narrator, is one of them. She remembers her old life, her husband and her daughter, and looks for any way to survive, resist or escape.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker finalist and is one of the most influential dystopian novels ever written, picked for both the BBC's Big Read and the PBS Great American Read. Its red robes have become a symbol of protest around the world.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It includes sexual violence, though not graphically. The ending is open, and the epilogue is worth reading. Atwood's sequel, The Testaments, won the Booker in 2019.
By the numbers
- Readers72 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics83 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller88 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz10 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #7 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #19 of the 762 classics we rank
- #58 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Dark
More by Margaret Atwood
The Blind Assassin
Oryx and Crake
Alias Grace
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Ender's Game
Dune
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Quick answers
Is The Handmaid’s Tale worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker finalist and is one of the most influential dystopian novels ever written, picked for both the BBC's Big Read and the PBS Great American Read. It ranks #58 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 88.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Handmaid’s Tale about?
In the Republic of Gilead, a theocracy that has overthrown the United States government, women have been stripped of their rights, and a falling birth rate has led the regime to assign fertile women to powerful men as handmaids, whose only purpose is to bear children. Offred, the narrator, is one of them. She remembers her old life, her husband and her daughter, and looks for any way to survive, resist or escape.
How long does it take to read The Handmaid’s Tale?
About 8 hours (324 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Handmaid’s Tale won?
Booker Prize winner (2019, for The Testaments).
What should I read after The Handmaid’s Tale?
If you liked it, try 1984 by George Orwell, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley or The Road by Cormac McCarthy.