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The Handmaid's Tale

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The Handmaid's Tale

Written by: Margaret Atwood
Narrated by: Claire Danes
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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.

©1985 Margaret Atwood (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Dystopian Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Women's Fiction Marriage
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What the critics say

“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 final chapter is useful in bringing it all together. Atwood wrote an interesting book - back in the 80’s - that harkens a bit to today’s news stories coming out of the states. Take note people !

Very interesting listening, especially sine there is also a TV series

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voices were well done. held my interest. touched on subjects rarely talked about. I love reading stories that are nothing like outher books!

Voices well casted.Story original & interesting.

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Such a phenomenal book that I think anyone of voting age needs to read. So much of it can be seen in our current global political landscape.

One of the best books

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Loved listening to this book. Although the narration was slower, it was easy to follow and suspenseful. #Audible1

Excellent book!

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I liked it, but I didn't love it. I thought I would because I generally like the dystopias. It was hard to get into because nothing really happened in the beginning.

well narrated

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