The Handmaid's Tale: A Novel

The Handmaid's Tale is set in the near future, in what was once the United States and is now called the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy. Responding to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate, the regime has reverted to and extended the repressive intolerance of the original Puritans, interpreting the Book of Genesis literally with severe consequences for its population. The narrative follows Offred, one of the Handmaids under this new social order. Through condensed but eloquent prose—alternating between cool-eyed, tender, despairing, passionate, and wry tones—she exposes the dark realities behind the establishment's outward calm, showing how certain existing tendencies are taken to their logical conclusions. The novel combines satire, warning, and dark humor, presenting a story that is unexpected, horrifying, and convincing.