The Handmaid's Tale Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Margaret Atwood (Author), Elisabeth Moss (Narrator), Bradley Whitford (Narrator),

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Brought to you by Penguin.

Shortlisted for Audiobook of the Year at the British Book Awards 2020.

Winner of Best Audiobook (Fiction) at the New York Festival Radio Awards 2020.

Read by Elisabeth Moss, star of the hit Channel 4 TV series.

Go back to where it all began with the dystopian novel behind the award-winning TV series.

I believe in the resistance as I believe there can be no light without shadow; or rather, no shadow unless there is also light.

Offred is a Handmaid in The Republic of Gilead, a religious totalitarian state in what was formerly known as the United States. She is placed in the household of The Commander, Fred Waterford - her assigned name, Offred, means 'of Fred'. She has only one function: to breed. If Offred refuses to enter into sexual servitude to repopulate a devastated world, she will be hanged. Yet even a repressive state cannot eradicate hope and desire. As she recalls her pre-revolution life in flashbacks, Offred must navigate through the terrifying landscape of torture and persecution in the present day, and between two men upon which her future hangs.

Masterfully conceived and executed, this haunting vision of the future places Margaret Atwood at the forefront of dystopian fiction

Listening Length

11 hours and 22 minutes
Author

Margaret Atwood
Narrator

Elisabeth Moss, see all
Audible release date

30 April 2019
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Audio
ASIN

B07R71V116
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	11 hours and 22 minutes
Author	Margaret Atwood
Narrator	Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Amy Landecker, Ann Dowd
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	30 April 2019
Publisher	Penguin Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07R71V116
Best Sellers Rank	235 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 1 in Dystopian Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) 4 in Dystopian Fiction 9 in Literary Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

5 star		56%
4 star		24%
3 star		13%
2 star		3%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from Australia

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Chilling...

Reviewed in Australia on 7 July 2017

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I read this when it was first published in the 1980's and bought the Kindle and re-read it when I knew the series was being released recently. Told from a very intimate first person narration, 'The Handmaid's Tale' provides a gripping account of a young woman's struggle in a nightmare society in a dystopian future. Following a cataclysmic event, democracy is overturned, a progressive 'normal' Western society becomes an oppressive regime where women's civil rights and freedoms are things of the past.

This dystopia destroys individuality and freedom to achieve the perfect society. 'The Handmaid's Tale' takes place in the Republic of Gilead, where there is a caste system and strict rules to keep the community in order and to save the population by having complete control over reproduction.

The heroine, Offred, is now a Handmaid. She has borne a child, so since she is known to be fertile she is placed with a family who have been unable to conceive their own child. Any child she bears now will stay with Fred and his wife, while Offred will move to a new family (and receive a new name, since Handmaids are named for the head of the household where they live). "Humanity is so adaptable, my mother would say. Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations." - Offred

The Handmaid's Tale is like the best science fiction, themes in the book expose larger social commentary, holding our own society up to a confronting mirror.
It is chilling. Atwood is an excellent writer, and the subject is profound. If you haven't read this book, I urge you to. I will now watch the series...

19 people found this helpful

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Ross McDougall

short sentences. big story!

Reviewed in Australia on 11 May 2017

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What a cool / terrifying book.
Any book or story in any form that has you gnawing on every detail, desperate for more is a great thing. The only thing that could have been better was more!

Offred was the kind of unreliable narrator that I love to read. Atwood gave her and the overarching story a great mix between keeping the various scenes moving and cutting all over the place too much. I also liked the easily digestible chapter lengths; it's a real 'just one more chapter' read.

The universe was well-realised, and bolstered more at the end. I'd like to hear more about this time in Gilead. While I think the book was about right in length, I'd happily trade some of the slower set-up of the world for some more exposition.

While a lot of reviews have commented on the inconsistency in inverted commas, I didn't find it very distracting; rather it encouraged me to read passages multiple times to catch the rhythm Atwood set. It made the reading far more interesting and a part of the story in itself with some ludicrously tiny sentences.

A splendid read! It took a while to get moving which removes one star, but it was still easy to stick with because every page posed more questions to be answered.

9 people found this helpful

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katykay

Enjoyed it more 2nd time round.

Reviewed in Australia on 1 July 2022

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I first read this book ages ago and I think I must have been in such a hurry to find out what happens that I missed much of the fine writing and subtleties of the plot. 2nd time round and reading the book after re-watching the series and I was blown away by how brilliant this book is. I became so engrossed that I actually had to set an alarm so that I would stop reading in time to go to work.
Totally recommend.

One person found this helpful

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Margaret

Addicted

Reviewed in Australia on 29 October 2019

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After watching the Handmaid's Tales on TV and waiting for the next Series, I thought I'd read the book, this one didn't cover as much as the Series did. I have the Testament to read yet and I'm thinking it will only cover the Series so far but can only hope for more. Wasn't disappointed but there are a few differences between Series and book, but that's expected. Enjoyed this and looking forward to reading the Testament 🤗

2 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

By a middle class white liberal for other middle class white liberals.

Reviewed in Australia on 31 August 2018

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" Now, tell me. You’re an intelligent person, I like to hear what you think. What did we overlook? "
"Love ", I said.
Yes, because if you're a middle class liberal, love is all you need. Societies stand or fall on love, not economics.
Here's a tip: no society ever fell because of love or lack of it. No rebellion ever happened because of morality or lack of it. It's always about economics. It's always too many immiserated with too little material means who can't take it anymore. Always. Don't take my word for it, have a look at history.
Only liberals believe the power of an individual's romantic/maternal love can move mountains or bring them down.
The only thing prescient about this book is its middle class liberal myopia.

3 people found this helpful

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Love 2 Read

Thought provoking

Reviewed in Australia on 27 June 2018

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This book depressed me because it was too close to the social engineering and we're starting to introduce in modern 2018. It was also too close for comfort to the dystopian worlds depicted in Orwell's books.
It was also written in a style I was unused to. As it was almost entirely an inner dialogue, it was difficult to follow who said what when the narrator was reflecting on conversations and actions.
I haven't watched the TV show and I'm not sure I want to although it may be one of those rare occasions when the book is not as good as the film.

One person found this helpful

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Sharon

A great work of literature

Reviewed in Australia on 20 March 2020

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I first came across this book after the first movie was made and found Margaret’s Gilead to be innovative and unique in its view of a possible future.
I then watched the Mini Series knowing that Ms Atwood has assisted with the screen play. It presented a more modern version of Gilead that differed from this book in some ways.
I thoroughly recommend that after reading this book, you buy the sequel, The Testaments.

One person found this helpful

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Anne Whight

FAR, FAR BETTER THAN THE TV VERSION

Reviewed in Australia on 10 December 2019

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I watched it first, then decided it was time to read it, thinking it would be ok. But it was Fabulous! I was addicted, and even though I knew the story, I could hardly wait for my evening reading time, in fact I spent a hot smoky day curled up inside, finishing it. Such wonderful writing. It’s my second book by Margaret Atwood, having read and been hooked on Hag-seed.

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Top reviews from other countries

CalenderGirl

The Handmaid's Tale

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2018

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What an incredible book. Somewhat unbelievable in some ways, but very much believable as it could happen, in the worst scenario ever (look at what's happening today). It could be reality, it could be women's worst nightmare. I haven't seen the TV programme, only read the original book, so no idea how the writer's have progressed this story for TV. It left a mark on me, it opens your mind as to how women have been treated over time and how we are considered a 'lesser person vs men'. Disturbing book, but very thought provoking. Very.

143 people found this helpful

Mariya Georgieva

Degrading to women

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 January 2019

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This book was recommended to me by many women and was listed in several Must-reads for women. I had great expectations and yet this is one of the very few books, which I just couldn't finish no matter how hard I tried. I have never read something more stupid and degrading to women (maybe only comparable to "50 shades of grey" in shallowness). Writing style... well with all my respect to the famous Ms Atwood, it is strained and presumptuous, and the narration is slow and boring.

112 people found this helpful

Don’t expect a transcript of the TV program

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 May 2018

Verified Purchase

Not my usual read. But read on the recommendation of a friend . Don’t expect the script of the TV series the book is much much better.Margaret Atwood uses words to spin a tale in which you get entangled. I really didn’t want to put it down, even though I watched it on TV and knew the story. I would and have recommended this book to friends not as a vintage classic but as a must read classic

119 people found this helpful

emmaclare1810

Masterclass in dystopia

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 August 2017

Verified Purchase

This book is amazing. It has been my favourite novel for fifteen years since I read it for A Level. I'm now an English teacher and every year I buy more copies than I'd like to admit to give to students. It is, in my opinion, the perfect dystopian novel: fiction that's just close enough to reality to scare the living daylights out of you.

123 people found this helpful

Slowcoach

One of the most boring books I've ever read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 September 2018

Verified Purchase

Total and absolute pretentious rubbish. Endlessly boring with no coherent plot of any substance. The author is no Aldous Huxley. I am sorry I wasted my money buying this and even more sorry I wasted my time reading it.

66 people found this helpful

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The Handmaid's Tale Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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