The Handmaid's Tale

By: Margaret Atwood

Narrated by: Claire Danes

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min

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.

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©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)

Chilling in these times

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

A riveting story and cautionary tale.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The first Ofglen, for her strength and resistance.

Which character – as performed by Claire Danes – was your favorite?

Above.

If you could rename The Handmaid's Tale, what would you call it?

It can happen to you.

One of the best books ever written

Would you listen to The Handmaid's Tale again? Why?

Absolutely. I read this once about 15 years ago and then listened to the book during a cross-country drive and I was awed by it both times. The story is haunting enough that I think it's worth re-reading periodically in any format but Claire Danes also did a sensational job with the narration so I'd be happy to listen to it again.

What about Claire Danes’s performance did you like?

She delivers her lines beautifully. She gives emotion to the performance but keeps it restrained which is in keeping with the book itself.

Any additional comments?

This is quite possibly the best dystopian fiction I have ever read. It's criminally under-read. The story is haunting and (especially now) timely. For my money, I'd have this taught in schools over 1984 or Brave New World (both great, don't get me wrong) any day of the week. Everyone should read this book.

Claire Danes makes the story come alive

Any additional comments?

I've read the Handmaid's Tale a number of times, so I know the story well. Listening to Claire Danes made this story come alive. She is masterful at using her voice to convey the emotions of the characters.

Margaret Atwood

This is the first work i have read by Atwood. An interesting dystopian novel not unlike events of the past and posibly some events in the future, are described by the narrator eloquently by Atwood. In my opinion this is a must read n our uncertain times

Not Sure How to Rate It

I debated long and hard whether to give this 3 stars or 4. I ultimately decided on 3, notwithstanding the superb narration of Claire Danes. She is also the reason I downloaded the book in the first place, not knowing fully what to expect. It was generally a good story albeit, I thought, somewhat far fetched. It was thought provoking, however. We do take a lot of our freedoms for granted. For some reason, it is my time to be reading what are typically thought to be women's books. I am also in the process of reading Jane Eyre. That one I am thoroughly enjoying, already anticipating a 5 star review. Anyway, I for the most part found O Fred's tale interesting, particularly enhanced by the narration of Claire Danes, which I thought was great.

Book club book

This is not a book that I would have picked for my self to read. I read it with my book club. I found it a bit boring.

Excellent book, excellent performance

Atwood is a fantastic writer with a talent for deep, poetic description. The narrator did an excellent job with Offred's character!

The historical transcript at the end of the novel made it. I loved this piece and will continue to recommend it.

Cutting edge for its time

Yet also timeless in its caution. The dystopic fiction genre has been painted, in large part, by the intellectually artistic brushstrokes of Margaret Atwood.

The story is shrouded in its nature as a memoir. The disjointed reflections belie the broader psychological shellshock Offred experienced in the societal change...great read and well read.

started to follow trends, but couldn't put it down

I started reading this because it's been so trendy, but I couldn't wait to keep going everytime I had to stop. it's not only a compelling story but really well written. the narration is good as well.

Interesting

Interesting and different but ultimately the story is disappointing. I felt the ending was awful.