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The Handmaid's Tale  By  cover art

The Handmaid's Tale

By: Margaret Atwood
Narrated by: Claire Danes
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Publisher's summary

Audie Award, Fiction, 2013

Margaret Atwood's popular dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale explores a broad range of issues relating to power, gender, and religious politics. Multiple Golden Globe award-winner Claire Danes (Romeo and Juliet, The Hours) gives a stirring performance of this classic in speculative fiction, one of the most powerful and widely read novels of our time.

After a staged terrorist attack kills the President and most of Congress, the government is deposed and taken over by the oppressive and all-controlling Republic of Gilead. Offred, now a Handmaid serving in the household of the enigmatic Commander and his bitter wife, can remember a time when she lived with her husband and daughter and had a job, before she lost even her own name. Despite the danger, Offred learns to navigate the intimate secrets of those who control her every move, risking her life in breaking the rules in hopes of ending this oppression.

Cover Art by Fred Marcellino. Used with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc.

Explore more titles performed by some of the most celebrated actors in the business in Audible’s Star-Powered Listens collection.
©1985 Margaret Atwood (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Claire Danes sparkles in this performance…Danes’s Offred is complex, and her flashes of intense strength highlight her vulnerability. This is a consuming listen, thanks to Danes’s emotional subtleties.” (AudioFile)

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The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. A little more than 50 years later, in 1973, the US Congress designated August 26th Women’s Equality Day. We proudly honor this year’s Women's Equality Day with 19 titles by or about amazing, diverse women. This list reflects fierce determination, victories big and bigger, and a lot of heart and soul. From riveting fiction to autobiography in song, there’s a listen that will surely get your vote.

What listeners say about The Handmaid's Tale

Average customer ratings
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    27,341
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    4 out of 5 stars

Best narration I have heard for a great story

I haven't seen the t.v. series yet but after listening to the audiobook I think I must! Great story, and even better narration.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A good however gloomy journey!

What did you love best about The Handmaid's Tale?

It's a frightening account of a society gone very wrong by way of the debasement of women's rights and therefore everyone's human rights. The writing, with its very detailed descriptions of the main character's state of minds and actions powerfully convey a feeling of unbearable decadence and violence. The story is told in an amazingly unemotional manner, and Claire Danes' performance is impeccable that way; yet the uncomfortable story lingered in my memory long after I finished reading the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

This book is moving, puzzling and sometimes horrifying.
Glad I read it, may read again .... in a year or two.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Book

I honestly just wish that there was more!

Great read, great narration by Claire Danes. I would definitely recommend it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Maybe I shouldn't have watched the show first

What did you love best about The Handmaid's Tale?

I went back and forth about liking and disliking the way the story was told. There was so much endless rambling. Sometimes it seemed necessary and was enjoyable, and then other times it seemed to drag on without adding to the story. I know that was supposed to be the character's way of telling the story, but the character is just an extension of the author and how she wanted to tell it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

It's still one of my favorite books.

Any additional comments?

I first read this book about 6 years ago. This is a re-read / audiobook listen for me (both reading and listening simultaneously, and at different times). It's still one of my favorite books. It's so timely and very important. The narration by Claire Danes is fantastic!

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Really interesting read.....

If you could sum up The Handmaid's Tale in three words, what would they be?

Intriguing, apocalyptic, dark

What other book might you compare The Handmaid's Tale to and why?

The Road

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Serena showed her a photo of her child that had been taken from her. Giving her hope and despair all at the same time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Claire Danes is brilliant

She transports you in her honest reading.
Engrossing and ranger terrifying. This review requires I add more words.
So there ya go.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

Now I'm excited to watch the TV Series to see this world translated into motion picture.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Claire Danes is PERFECT!

I could listen to Claire narrate anything! I thought the story was OK, but I'm a guy so...

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