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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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About this listen

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 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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There is no genre that lends itself better to audio narrative than Science Fiction does. There is a magic that transports listeners to new worlds of wonder and mystery that is heightened by expert voice actors and narrators. A great writer can create an imaginative new world or dystopian civilisation, but it is up to the narrator to bring this world to life around you. We’ve gathered together 20 of the top science fiction audiobooks ranked not only for their stories but for the emotive and compelling narrative performances. Let these award winning tales and voices carry you away to worlds unknown.

What listeners say about The Handmaid's Tale

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

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 !

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Voices well casted.Story original & interesting.

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

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One of the best books

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.

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Excellent book!

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

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well narrated

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.

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Classic! highly recommend

Classic book! I highly recommend it. Love the writing style and performance, it takes a while to get started but it gets really good after the first couple of chapters.

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Very Good- good narration

Having read the book many years ago I couldn’t remember most of the story - now
Seems to be very popular again - likely due to the new series. Thoroughly enjoyed the story. Normally I do not listen to fiction on audible but I highly recommend this book. It kept your interest and the narrator had a pleasant voice. Often there are books I would get but am turned of by the chosen narrator.

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One of my favourite books ever!

Quite eerie are the similarities of the time in which this was written to our own 37 years later. Absolutely profound, fascinating, and prophetic.

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Compelling story and perfect narration!

I could not have loved this more. Powerhouse combo of Atwood’s prose and Danes’ performance.

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3 people found this helpful

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A true classic

Amazing, thoughtful, deep, and very profound. This is obviously a classic. Inspiration for a generation of women. #audible1

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3 people found this helpful