Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is set in a near-future New England ruled by the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian theocracy in which women are severely subjugated. Offred is a handmaiden, a class of women owned by powerful men solely for reproductive purposes (her name literally means Of-Fred). The novel follows Offred's harrowing experiences as property of The Commander and his wife, interspersed with flashbacks from before the revolution and her failed attempt to escape Gilead.
The Handmaid's Tale, first published in 1985, won the 1987 Arthur C. Clarke Award, was a finalist for the 1986 Booker Prize, and cemented Atwood's reputation as a master of literary speculative fiction. The book satirizes current social and religious trends in the United States, using an historical basis in 17th-century Puritan communities, to create a compelling work that is often taught in high school and college courses. On April 26, streaming service Hulu will premiere a series based on The Handmaid's Tale starring Elisabeth Moss as Offred and Joseph Fiennes as The Commander. It was last published by Anchor Books in 1998 ($15.95, 9780385490818). --Tobias Mutter