She is placed in a household under Commander Fred Waterford’s rule and given a new name, Offred. She must continue to offer herself to him with the sole objective of becoming pregnant though, should this happen, the child would not be considered her own.
Throughout the novel, Offred recalls her previous life in flashbacks while also guiding the reader to an understanding of how this world came to be. The current landscape is wrought with danger, torture, and persecution.
However bleak her circumstances, Offred refuses to give up hope, of finding her daughter, of reuniting with her family, and in a resistance that may finally bring Gilead to its knees.
Now made into a hugely successful TV series, Margaret Atwood’s number one bestselling novel is a powerful and terrifyingly resonant insight into what it means to live in a society of total oppression, where freedom will never be an option.
You should read this book if…

• You want to read a powerful story from a woman’s perspective, examining themes of oppression and feminism
• You are looking for a book full of action, tension, and drama
• You are a fan of the esteemed author, Margaret Atwood, or have enjoyed the TV series