The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel written by Margaret Atwood in 1985. It depicts a totalitarian world known as Gilead, portraying the subjection of women in a patriarchal society. The near-future New England setting illustrates a bleak portrayal of the world after the United States is overthrown by a fundamentalist group. Society is reorganized by the regime using a peculiar interpretation of some Old Testament ideas, and a new militarized, hierarchical model of social and religious fanaticism among its newly created social classes. The novel follows the story of a young woman, Offred, who struggles to maintain her identity. It depicts the rebellion of the women in her social class as their ability to read, write, own property, or handle money are lost. Most significantly, women are deprived of control over their own reproductive functions.The Handmaid's Tale was nominated for the first-ever Man Booker International Prize representing the best writers in contemporary fiction. Margaret Atwood is the author of more than 35 internationally acclaimed works of fiction, poetry, and critical essays. Her numerous awards include the Governor General’s Award for The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Giller Prize and Italian Premio Mondello for Alias Grace. The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye, Alias Grace, and Oryx and Crake were all shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, which she won with The Blind Assassin. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and has been awarded the Norwegian Order of Literary Merit and the French Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres among many others; she is a Foreign Honorary Member for Literature of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She lives in Toronto.

First Edition Identification

McClelland and Stewart published a 1st edition of The Handmaid’s Tale in 1985, as a hardcover in Toronto, Canada. A true first printing includes "Set in the near future in a locale resembling Cambridge Massachusetts, this work describes life in what was once the United States - A Clockwork Orange, as seen by women" on the dust jacket. In 1986 Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, published the first US edition of The Handmaid’s Tale in 1986.Jonathan Cape published the first UK edition of The Handmaid’s Tale in 1986.

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

The Folio Society published a limited edition of The Handmaid’s Tale in 2012, London. The hardcover edition features unique illustrations by Anna and Elena Balbusso, in full-color.

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The Handmaid's Tale
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The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1986
Binding
Hard Cover
ISBN 10
0395404258
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Inscribed By Author. A clean, unmarked book with a tight binding. Very slight bump to corner of rear cover and slight wear to top page ends. Slightest discoloration to dust jacket. First Edition with the number ""1"" present in the number line. … Read more about this item
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Handmaid's Tale, the
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Handmaid's Tale, the

by Margaret Atwood

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Published
1986
ISBN 10
0224023489
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London, Greater London, GBR
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THE HANDMAID'S TALE MARGARET ATWOOD SIGNED UK FIRST EDITION FIRST PRINTING 1986 JONATHAN CAPE Not price clipped. Some foxing to the dust jacket flaps, but book itself is clean, with light tanning to the textblock edges. Dust jacket is in a protective cover. Includes a SIGNED LETTER to a fan (presumably a previous owner) with the comment: "It's nice to have a picture of you in the… Read more about this item
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The Handmaid's Tale
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The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

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Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
First Edition 1st Printing
Published
1986
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0395404258
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Rockville, Maryland, USA
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New York, New York, U.S.A.: Houghton Mifflin, 1986. First Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 1986 Houghton Mifflin FIRST edition of Atwood's acclaimed futuristic novel. This book is in VG/VG condition. The HB is clean with a long inscription on the ffep. The DJ is unclipped and has minor wear at the … Read more about this item
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The Handmaid's Tale
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The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

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Edition
First
Published
1985
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First Canadian edition, first impression (McClelland and Stewart, 1985). Signed and inscribed by the author to half-title: 'For Nancy - Best Wishes - Margaret Atwood'. Featuring striking dust jacket artwork by Tad Aronowicz. The true first edition, preceding that of the UK and the US. Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award and more recently adapted into a successful TV… Read more about this item
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The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

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Used - Very Good in Good dust jacket
Edition
First Edition
Published
1985
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0771008139
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Toronto, Canada: McClelland & Stewart / CBC Television. Very Good in Good dust jacket. 1985. First Edition. Hardcover. 0771008139 . "Set in the near future in a locale resembling Cambridge Massachusetts, this work describes life in what was once the United States - A Clockwork Orange, as seen by women." - dust jacket. Second printing of the… Read more about this item
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The Handmaid's Tale: The iconic Sunday Times bestseller that inspired the hit TV series

The Handmaid's Tale: The iconic Sunday Times bestseller that inspired the hit TV series

by Atwood, Margaret

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Used - Acceptable
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Paperback
ISBN 10
0099740915
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Paperback. Acceptable.
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The Handmaid's Tale.
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The Handmaid's Tale.

by Atwood, Margaret

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Edition
1st Edition
Published
1986
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Canton, Georgia, USA
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986., 1986. First printing. 8vo. 311 pp. + [1] page About the Author. Original binding. This is a tight, crisp, apparently unread book in a bright, fine DJ with $16.95 price intact.. 1st Edition. Hardcover. As New/Dust Jacket Included.
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The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret (Signed)

Condition
Used - Good in Very Good dust jacket
Edition
First Edition
Published
1985
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0771008139
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Toronto, Canada: McClelland & Stewart. Good in Very Good dust jacket. 1985. First Edition. Hardcover. 0771008139 . Signed, without inscription, by Margaret Atwood upon half-title page. True first printing. "Set in the near future in a locale resembling Cambridge Massachusetts, this work describes life in what was once the United States - A Clockwork Orange,… Read more about this item
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The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1985
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0771008139
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Burnaby, British Columbia, CAN
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Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1985. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. The jacket is in very good condition, the back jacket cover has a minor tear 0.75 inches in length, none of the cover has been lost, the jacket has since been wrapped in brodart for preservation. The text itself is in great… Read more about this item
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The Handmaid's Tale
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The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1986
ISBN 10
0395404258
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Spring Branch, Texas, USA
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G/G. Jacket in mylar. 1st printing. A bookplate signed by Atwood laid in unaffixed. Spine fade to book, owner plate on fep, jacket has general browning and chip along spine head
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The Handmaid's Tale
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The Handmaid's Tale

by MARGARET ATWOOD

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Used - Fine
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Fair
Edition
Second printing
Published
1985
ISBN 10
0771008139
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Cheverie, Nova Scotia, CAN
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A fine second printing of the first Canadian edition in a fair dust jacket. Staining to lower spine and 2cm tear to front lower left corner, shown in picture. It is otherwise intact and not price-clipped.
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The Handmaid's Tale
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The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

Condition
Used - Good Condition
Jacket Condition
Good
Edition
Early Edition
Published
1986
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0224023489
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Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, GBR
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Jonathan Cape Ltd, 1986. Early Edition. Hardcover. Good Condition/Good. VG-/Good+ 3rd impression 1986 Cape hardback, unclipped DJ. Booker Price sticker to front. Some inky residue to top rear area of jacket panel, thin strip of water-staining to inside top and bottom edges of jacket, light page tan else VG and unmarked internally. More Atwood available.… Read more about this item
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The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

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ISBN 10
0771008139
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McClelland and Stewart. Used - Acceptable. Canadian First Edition, First Printing (1st Edition, 1st Printing).
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The Handmaid's Tale: the book that inspired the hit TV series (Vintage classics, 1)

The Handmaid's Tale: the book that inspired the hit TV series (Vintage classics, 1)

by Atwood, Margaret

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Paperback
ISBN 10
1784873187
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Paperback. Very Good.
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THE HANDMAID'S TALE

by Atwood, Margaret

Condition
Used - Near Fine+
Jacket Condition
Near Fine+
Edition
First Edition
Published
1985
Binding
Hardcover
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Ottawa, Ontario, CAN
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Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1985. Hardcover; 8vo; 324 pages. First edition. Two tone paper hardcovers, burgundy on spine, cream-coloured on sides. Gently rubbed tail. Inside pages are very clean. Burgundy endpapers,clean. In a off-white jacket with red titles and ill. on front. Very light brown smudge on spine. NPC. In a mylar jacket. NF+/NF+. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine+/Near Fine+.… Read more about this item
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The Handmaid's Tale
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The Handmaid's Tale

by Atwood, Margaret

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No Jacket
Published
2012
Binding
Hard Cover
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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London: The Folio Society, 2012. Hard Cover. Fine/No Jacket. Balbusso, Anna and Elena. A new, unread book in excellent condition in an excellent slipcase. No dust jacket, as issued. With a new introduction by Margaret Atwood. Illustrations by Anna and Elena Balbusso.
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The Handmaid’s Tale.

The Handmaid’s Tale.

by Atwood, Margaret

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Published
1985
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985.
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The Handmaid's Tale (Contemporary Classics)

by Margaret Atwood

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Used; Good
Published
07/05/2007
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0099740915
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London, Greater London, GBR
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Vintage, 07/05/2007. Paperback. Used; Good. **WE SHIP WITHIN 24 HRS FROM LONDON, UK, 98% OF OUR ORDERS ARE RECEIVED WITHIN 7-10 DAYS. We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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The Handmaid's Tale (Contemporary classics)

by Margaret Atwood

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Used; Good
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Paperback
ISBN 10
0099740915
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Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
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Vintage. Paperback. Used; Good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there’s something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within… Read more about this item
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The Handmaid's Tale.

by Atwood, Margaret. (Poems) Grace, Sherrill E. (Introduction)

Condition
Used - Fine in Fine dust jacket
Edition
First Edition; First Printing
Published
1986
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0395404258
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Santa Monica, California, USA
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Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company.. Fine in Fine dust jacket. 1986. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. 0395404258 . First American edition. INSCRIBED by Margaret Atwood on half-title page to noted translator Tiina Nunnally. Fine in fine dust jacket. Includes the original pictorial publisher's card. Tiina Nunnally is the translator of the Henning Mankell mystery novels. A notable… Read more about this item
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$1,250.00