Where to start
The Handmaid's Tale
2 versions · originally a book, 2017
Themes: Totalitarianism, Religious Extremism, Gender Inequality, Loss of Freedom, Female Resistance.
Margaret Atwood’s harrowing vision of a theocratic dictatorship serves as a chilling, timeless warning about the fragility of women's autonomy.
✦ Most fans start here
The Handmaid's Tale (2017)
The original novel
✦ Start hereThe Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood · Book · 2017
The Handmaid's Tale (2017) book provides the definitive, intimate foundation of the story, offering deep psychological insight into Offred’s internal resistance against the Republic of Gilead’s oppressive patriarchal structures.
2017 series
The Handmaid's Tale
Bruce Miller · Series · 2017
The Handmaid's Tale (2017) tv series expands the scope of the original narrative, utilizing visual storytelling to dramatize the systemic brutality and the complex political landscape of the theocratic dictatorship.
Common questions
Is The Handmaid's Tale book the same as the 2017 TV show?
The Handmaid's Tale TV series is an adaptation of the 2017 book. While the television show expands upon the narrative and characters found in the source material, both versions explore the same dystopian themes and setting established in the original literary work.
Should I read The Handmaid's Tale book before watching the TV show?
Reading The Handmaid's Tale book before watching the 2017 TV series provides essential context for the world-building. The book offers a focused perspective on the events, while the television adaptation builds out the world further, allowing for a deeper understanding of the story's complex political landscape.
What is the source material for The Handmaid's Tale TV show?
The source material for The Handmaid's Tale TV show is the book of the same name. The 2017 publication serves as the foundational text for the television series, which adapts the story and themes from the book into a multi-season visual format.
How does The Handmaid's Tale book compare to the 2017 television series?
The Handmaid's Tale book provides the original narrative structure, whereas the 2017 TV series serves as an adaptation that extends the plot. Both versions maintain the core themes of the original story, though the television format allows for broader exploration of the characters and their environment.