The Handmaidens Tale (1996) by author Margaret Atwood is an intense and powerful novel. One quickly notices that it resembles other dystopic novels such as Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World in that THT is concerned with authority, its abuse and the human condition.
THT is significantly different, however, as the oppressive social schema it presents is based on the notion of reproduction and the role of women. Some are slaves; others are privileged but whatever the case you must fit in and obey the order prescribed to serve the need to populate.
The novel is seen through the eyes of a young female biological slave Offred as she reflects on her options, swimming through a dangerous world.
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