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The Handmaid's Tale Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Margaret Atwood (Author), Claire Danes (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)
4.3 out of 5 stars 165,510 ratings

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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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Handmaid's Tale
  2. Listening Length
    11 hours and 1 minute
  3. Author
    Margaret Atwood
  4. Narrator
    Claire Danes
  5. Audible release date
    January 1, 2012
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  8. ASIN
    B008X6SZ0K
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Book 1 of 2 The Handmaid's Tale
Listening Length 11 hours and 1 minute
Author Margaret Atwood
Narrator Claire Danes
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 01, 2012
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B008X6SZ0K
Best Sellers Rank #218 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#4 in Dystopian Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#7 in Literary Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#7 in Dystopian Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
165,510 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a captivating read with a thought-provoking narrative and interesting premise. The writing quality receives mixed reactions, with some finding it well-written while others find it challenging to read. The ending is particularly divisive, with some praising its unforgettable storyline while others find it too didactic. Customers describe the pacing as monotonous and tedious, and while some find the characters compelling, others note they aren't well developed. The book's scariness level is also mixed, with customers describing it as both terrifying and disturbing.

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3,879 customers mention "Readability"3,090 positive789 negative

Customers find the book to be a very good and captivating read, describing it as a masterpiece that is incredibly believable.

"...and her observations of self, other, and society are so clear and beautiful, so bleak, sad and yet hopeful - so compelling - in making us see these..." Read more

"...The Handmaid's Tale is true literature, thus by practical definition, this makes the story a little slow and boring at points...." Read more

"...The Handmaid's Tale is certainly a book worth reading, but its place in the literary imagination will not, I suspect, reflect the original ambitions..." Read more

"...with decades of life experience behind me, I see that this is a deeply moving, complex book...." Read more

1,585 customers mention "Thought provoking"1,488 positive97 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, appreciating its interesting premise, with one customer noting how it creates an entirely new reality.

"...And yet. There is compassion - much compassion - in this book not just for Offred but for each of her persecutors; and a perfectly clear view, of..." Read more

"...It has a good message, is objectively well written, and I can see why a lot of people like the book. Just wasn’t for me. Glad I read it though" Read more

"...The subtext of The Handmaid's tale is a marvellously thought provoking book about the subtleties that go into how societies change, but if you're..." Read more

"...I really enjoyed the world building in this novel because it just felt so feasible...." Read more

212 customers mention "Storytelling"172 positive40 negative

Customers appreciate the storytelling in the book, noting its interesting narrative style and how it draws readers in, with one customer describing it as a captivating story of a young woman.

"...Still, as a matter of clear, simple storytelling, it rocks. And it’s thankfully short with its cliffhanger, though the epilogue really doesn’t help." Read more

"...The narrative technique used by Atwood is powerful, as it keeps us in Offred's head at all times, almost trapped with her in her prison of red...." Read more

"...She calls this work a speculative fiction because she extrapolates from current events a possible alternative future based on a collage of actual..." Read more

"...How Offred’s character, past, and present weave together is amazing and just builds on each other...." Read more

1,663 customers mention "Ending"925 positive738 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the ending of the book, with some praising its unforgettable storyline and great dystopian narrative, while others find it disturbing and too didactic, with the ending being achingly ambiguous.

"...other, and society are so clear and beautiful, so bleak, sad and yet hopeful - so compelling - in making us see these people...." Read more

"...hand, I found that the way in which Offred's story is presented comes across as too didactic, and I kept wishing that we could hear the intimate..." Read more

"...is the perfect blend of weak and strong...." Read more

"...The ending felt abrupt and a bit rushed, otherwise this would’ve been five stars...." Read more

1,615 customers mention "Writing quality"1,038 positive577 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some praising the striking prose and loving Atwood's style, while others find it challenging to read and note that the storytelling isn't always easy on the reader.

"...book not just for Offred but for each of her persecutors; and a perfectly clear view, of each person in Offred's life, from the patriarchy which..." Read more

"...It has a good message, is objectively well written, and I can see why a lot of people like the book. Just wasn’t for me. Glad I read it though" Read more

"...They are supposed to be new but both arrived damaged. They are readable and since it is difficult for me to return items I will keep them but I will..." Read more

"...of life experience behind me, I see that this is a deeply moving, complex book...." Read more

800 customers mention "Scariness level"381 positive419 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the scariness level of the book, with some finding it terrifying and absolutely chilling, while others describe it as disturbing.

"...This is not a fun story, nor is it exciting or clever. It is scary, dark, and unforgiving...." Read more

"...She has no roads but dead ends; no feelings but pain, isolation, and tragic loss; in a society which both reviles her and yet absolutely, completely..." Read more

"One of the strangest and scariest books I’ve read in a long time...." Read more

"...Still, I found the book so haunting, so alarming, and so masterful that this had little effect on my overall impression...." Read more

280 customers mention "Character development"168 positive112 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them compelling and noting that the main character has a past, while others point out that the supporting characters are flat.

"...For 95% of the novel, you are intimately involved, inside the head of poor Offred, witnessing and hearing and experiencing her world first hand..." Read more

"...it was to really emphasize the lack of person, the lack of autonomy the various characters had, especially the handmaidens...." Read more

"...The characters were fleshed-out and believable, yet by the end of the story I could not tell you how most of them grew or changed over the course of..." Read more

"...So, in this sense, Offred became an interesting character one could readily identify with and follow...." Read more

302 customers mention "Pacing"55 positive247 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book difficult to follow, describing it as monotonous and tiring to read.

"Only reason it’s 4 is because I personally didn’t find it very engaging...." Read more

"...The ending felt abrupt and a bit rushed, otherwise this would’ve been five stars...." Read more

"Brilliant in ways, but monotonal in its mundanity much of the time, intentional or not...." Read more

"...I felt like this one just abruptly stopped...." Read more

It came damaged
4 out of 5 stars
It came damaged
The book was like this when I received it. It’s fixable just annoying.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reads4Fun
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect and prescient for these times. READ it.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I will admit - Over the years, 'Handmaid' was one of those books everyone had told me just HAD to be read - but with the clear discomfort they'd show in saying that, I always thought - Nope; not for me. I'm just not one for the whole dystopian thing; I need to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
    Fast forward to last week - this book being required for my daughter's Eng Lit class, and sitting available while I was at loose ends in a Starbucks for several hours - I thought, Why not?... and how glad I am, that I had those few hours. Wow. I was gone, hook line and sinker, from the first page on.

    Handmaid is set in, yes, a dystopian future in which women's place in the world has been subverted, through various events which resonate awfully closely with current times. The story picks up at the moment when Offred (a concatenation of her "owner's" name and her position in this society) is assigned to a new home in a city in America, for reasons that become all too clear within a few short pages. Her experiences within this new environment, interwoven with her recollection of her past before this societal apocalypse, unveil themselves like the layers of an onion - a never-ending interweaving of recollections and current experiences which, in their close parallels with so much that seems to be happening in our current world, make it not just an uncomfortable read, as so many other reviewers have said; but an eerily prescient one for these times.

    I could go on about that aspect of what makes this such a valuable read for any person over the age of 10 years old, but I'm quite sure many of the 1,000 + prior reviewers will have spoken to that far more effectively than I ever could. But for me, what makes this book so great is the Voice that the protagonist gains as she struggles in such a harsh, unforgiving, and shockingly cruel environment - the brutal honesty with which that voice speaks to the horrors and impossible personal choices that any of us would have to make, faced with such a savagely misogynistic society. There is no turning away from those realities in this book; Offred is, clearly, no better than any of us; but, she is, perhaps, more honest about her choices than any of us would ever manage to be. She has no roads but dead ends; no feelings but pain, isolation, and tragic loss; in a society which both reviles her and yet absolutely, completely, stunningly, needs her.

    And yet. There is compassion - much compassion - in this book not just for Offred but for each of her persecutors; and a perfectly clear view, of each person in Offred's life, from the patriarchy which dictates every aspect of the lives of the Americans; to the women with whom she is forced to share the household; to the man who runs their lives - and in theory owns Offred, body and soul. Margaret Atwood has managed to capture the complete horror of this situation and yet the complete spectrum of needs and innate humanness - warts and all - of each of the players in this world, speaking with true sight not only about what they each do, but the real WHY of it, like a series of ornate but utterly constrained chess pieces moved about in a deadly game by unseen hands.

    Atwood's brilliance with the written word, the layers of meaning she assigns to so many individual words, is a both a challenge and a complete delight, no matter how difficult the topics she makes us consider. Each page is like unwrapping a gift of many layers of brightly colored paper, never knowing what you will ultimately find inside: something to treasure, or something to fear. Offred's voice and her observations of self, other, and society are so clear and beautiful, so bleak, sad and yet hopeful - so compelling - in making us see these people. There are many phrases and visions Atwood has generated that will stay with me, now, for life. I cannot say I am in all cases glad of that - but I know i am richer for it. And in reading many of the current, more negative responses of the Amazon reading community, I cannot help but wonder if their dislike of the book is in many cases driven precisely from Atwood's artistry with words. She holds up not a picture for us to view, but a mirror to reflect realities that in many cases no one in their right mind would want to see - they are far too close, too personal, too true. And yet - we MUST look.

    I do not see, as some others do, a depressing endgame in this book; quite the opposite. Offred's determination to survive no matter what the cost and her slow but relentless growth to her own form of power and eventual rebellion, is not so much a story as a roadmap. We could all do well by, like Offred, looking with clear eyes at this dystopian imagining. If, at the end of the day, this book leaves you uncomfortable or depressed or angry - good, if at the same time it also manages to leave you unsettled. Atwood's intent was never to entertain you but to inform you - and that, she does with a master's deft hand.

    Three days and counting. What will we learn in Atwood's new book? I look forward, with a perfectly uncomfortable blend of anticipation and anxiety, dread and hope, to the answer to that question.
    104 people found this helpful
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  • Lauren
    4.0 out of 5 stars All We Have is Perspective
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I picked up the kindle version of The Handmaid’s Tale due to the fact the library was out, and this book was not what I expected. I had heard of it many times before, a classic, and now it is culturally relevant more than it was a few years ago, probably explaining why the library was out. The strongest asset of this story is Margaret Atwood’s writing style. I was enthralled by her use of language and could not guess where the plot was going to go, which is almost always a good thing. In this case, however, I found the plot direction to be ultimately dissatisfying.

    This book reads more like a description of a very intricate and complicated society and less like a traditional story. The characters were fleshed-out and believable, yet by the end of the story I could not tell you how most of them grew or changed over the course of the book. The main character starts off by referencing aspects of the dystopian future she lives in, and slowly she reveals more details about this world as well as her past. I don’t think that the plot is supposed to be the focus of this book, but I couldn’t help being disappointed with the main character’s ending and the questions left over about her.

    I felt left hanging at the end of the book and especially at the end of the “Historical Notes” epilogue. It did explain some unanswered questions but for me also raised more. Typically I like open endings, because there tend to be a few likely possibilities and the reader can use their imagination or pick between what might be possible. With this book, however, I have no guess, I have no idea what might be possible endings to the main character’s story, which is only disappointing because I enjoyed the rest of the book so much. This is a minor complaint, though, considering that I imagine the book to be far more driven by description, metaphor, and social commentary than by the plot. Overall, though, I think that the descriptions and metaphors that paint her experience do a great job of building the world and tackling the important social issues that arise.
    This story has a lot to say about gender dynamics, relationships, procreation, and the way the government as well as society in general views and handles these issues. I think this could easily be seen as a cautionary tale, to keep empathy in mind and to try to see things from the view of “the other”. This is a story from a woman’s perspective, and the women in this story essentially function only as property of men, yet are controlled by other women. A society that has in many ways returned to the past.

    Atwood does a good job of also explaining the men’s dissatisfaction and unhappiness in this world, giving a sense of their perspective and how this future didn’t turn out how they’d hoped, which is a big reason I’d recommend this book to both men and women. There is a large amount of distrust observed by the main character, and I could see it applying to any person theoretically living in this dystopia, especially considering how different people have different kinds of power over each other. I think this resonates with real life, and I can identify with the main character in her seemingly constantly being aware of everyone having desires and negotiating. These are major themes I noticed in this story, which also does well to tie into the themes of relationships and friendships.

    These themes show us the importance of coming together, communicating, and standing up for others, especially when a government system creates enemies by generalizing large groups of people. This is an example of how this book is standing the test of time, is relevant now, and will likely continue to be relevant.
    12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Anonymous
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ótimo livro!
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Já tinha assistido à série homônima de TV e achei ótimo o livro.
    Report
  • martiadamvahit
    5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Classics
    Reviewed in Turkey on November 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Resimdeki kapak ile geldi Vintage Classics basim. Tesekkurler.
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  • Sara
    2.0 out of 5 stars The book condition is perfect
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on August 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    One of the worst book I have ever read such a chore to read and not worth it at all
    Report
  • Without Fear or Favour
    5.0 out of 5 stars A cautionary tale. Don't ever think it cannot happen!
    Reviewed in Singapore on December 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It has been a long time coming, but I finally got around to reading this modern classic which was published way back in 1985. It experienced a revival in interest (only in a relative sense because this book is too well-known and readers' interest is always there) in 2016 when Trump came into power. A sequel — The Testaments — came out in 2019 and won the Booker Prize that same year.

    “The Handmaid’s Tale” is one of a handful of popular/famous novels about dystopia which include Huxley’s “Brave New World”, Orwell’s “1984”, and Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”.

    It is highly readable and switches easily between the past and present. It depicts the protagonist’s desperate clinging to her identity and her refusal to give in to the autocratic system in place.

    The Handmaid's Tale is a cautionary narrative. There are still many who believe that tragedies such as that which unfolded in the story can never befall us. This is a terrible mistake. Our history is replete with many dark events. All it takes is complacency or the presence of supporting conditions to bring about a dystopian future.

    Our world is constantly beset by changes ... nothing is ever permanent or certain. Anything can happen given the presence of conducive conditions. The values and society we know are fragile.

    In short, “The Handmaid’s Tale” gives us plenty to think about. It sends out a clear message: Do not take our freedoms and liberal values for granted. They need to be protected.
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  • marshwader
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a warning, not an instruction manual!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is a book I should have read earlier! Because of the change in international politics of late I thought I must read this book, which is a warning to humanity and definitely not an instruction manual! I never watched the TV drama based on the book. It is harrowing, disturbing, frightening, misogynistic, dystopian future and frequently I imagined myself as the protagonist and wondered how I would have coped in the same situation. It is not a feminist ramble against men, but it is looking at many different totalitarian states where dissent is denied whether it is political, religious or gender based and looking at the state of the USA now makes me worry very much that they are on the precipice of such a state. I thought the book was brilliant and profound and will now have to read the sequel!
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