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Introduction
The Handmaid's Tale is a feminist dystopian novel, a work of science fiction or speculative fiction,[1] written by Canadian author Margaret Atwood[2][3] and first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1985. Set in the near future, in a totalitarian theocracy which has overthrown the United States government, The Handmaid's Tale explores themes of women in subjugation and the various means by which they gain agency.
The Handmaid's Tale won the 1985 Governor General's Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987, and it was nominated for the 1986 Nebula Award, the 1986 Booker Prize, and the 1987 Prometheus Award. It has been adapted for the cinema, radio, opera, and stage.
- Introduction
- Plot summary
- Characters
- Social groups
- Generic classifications of the novel
- Themes
- Social critique
- Awards
- Frequent challenges, ALA conference, and controversy
- Adaptations
- Translations
- Notes
- Works cited
- Further reading
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