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
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1986
- Binding
- Hard Cover
- ISBN 10
- 0395404258
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
$672.00
Show Details
Description:
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 Item Price
$672.00

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Handmaid's Tale, the
by Margaret Atwood
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Published
- 1986
- ISBN 10
- 0224023489
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
London, Greater London, GBR
- Item Price
-
$1,934.84
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Description:
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 Item Price
$1,934.84

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The Handmaid's Tale
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition 1st Printing
- Published
- 1986
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0395404258
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
$140.00
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Description:
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 Item Price
$140.00

The Handmaid's Tale: The iconic Sunday Times bestseller that inspired the hit TV series
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0099740915
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
$3.65
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Description:
Paperback. Acceptable. Item Price
$3.65

The Handmaid's Tale
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used - Very Good in Good dust jacket
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1985
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0771008139
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Ladysmith, British Columbia, CAN
- Item Price
-
$1,500.00
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Description:
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 Item Price
$1,500.00

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
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Ladysmith, British Columbia, CAN
- Item Price
-
$3,500.00
Show Details
Description:
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 Item Price
$3,500.00

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The Handmaid's Tale.
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1986
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Canton, Georgia, USA
- Item Price
-
$400.00
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Description:
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. Item Price
$400.00

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The Handmaid's Tale
by MARGARET ATWOOD
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fair
- Edition
- Second printing
- Published
- 1985
- ISBN 10
- 0771008139
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Cheverie, Nova Scotia, CAN
- Item Price
-
$130.00
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Description:
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. Item Price
$130.00

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The Handmaid's Tale
by Margaret Atwood
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1986
- ISBN 10
- 0395404258
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Spring Branch, Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
$400.00
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Description:
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 Item Price
$400.00

The Handmaid's Tale: the book that inspired the hit TV series (Vintage classics, 1)
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 1784873187
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
$1.29
Show Details
Description:
Paperback. Very Good. Item Price
$1.29

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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
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
$107.06
Show Details
Description:
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 Item Price
$107.06

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The Handmaid's Tale
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First
- Published
- 1985
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Chelmsford, Essex, GBR
- Item Price
-
$3,547.22
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Description:
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 Item Price
$3,547.22

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
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Burnaby, British Columbia, CAN
- Item Price
-
$499.00
Show Details
Description:
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 Item Price
$499.00

The Handmaid's Tale
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- ISBN 10
- 0771008139
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Victoria, British Columbia, CAN
- Item Price
-
$150.00
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Description:
McClelland and Stewart. Used - Acceptable. Canadian First Edition, First Printing (1st Edition, 1st Printing). Item Price
$150.00

THE HANDMAID'S TALE
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine+
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine+
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1985
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Ottawa, Ontario, CAN
- Item Price
-
$258.75
Show Details
Description:
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 Item Price
$258.75

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The Handmaid's Tale
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- No Jacket
- Published
- 2012
- Binding
- Hard Cover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
$280.00
Show Details
Description:
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. Item Price
$280.00

The Handmaid's Tale (Contemporary classics)
by Margaret Atwood
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0099740915
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
$4.49
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Description:
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 theres something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within… Read more about this item Item Price
$4.49

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The Handmaid's Tale (Uncorrected Proof—Larry McMurtry's Personal Copy)
by Atwood, Margaret
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1986
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Edmonton, Alberta, CAN
- Item Price
-
$604.56
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Description:
In paperback, this is a scarce uncorrected proof of the first U.S. edition of Margaret Atwood's influential 1986 novel The Handmaid's Tale. This is also the personal copy of the late author and bookseller Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove), featuring his distinctive, minimalist bookplate on the inside of the front cover. Truly a unique item.
The book is in very good to… Read more about this item Item Price
$604.56

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
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Santa Monica, California, USA
- Item Price
-
$1,250.00
Show Details
Description:
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 Item Price
$1,250.00

The Handmaid's Tale (Contemporary Classics)
by Margaret Atwood
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Published
- 07/05/2007
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0099740915
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
London, Greater London, GBR
- Item Price
-
$4.50
Show Details
Description:
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. Item Price
$4.50