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The Handmaid's Tale · Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid's Tale books in order
There are 2 books in The Handmaid's Tale. The latest, The Testaments, came out in 2019, and Margaret Atwood hasn't announced another one yet.
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Release information last checked 25 October 2026.
The Handmaid's Tale books in order
1985Book 1The Handmaid’s Tale
2019Book 2The Testaments
Companion stories
2019CompanionThe Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel
What The Handmaid's Tale is about
From the description of The Handmaid’s Tale, the first book.
The Handmaid's Tale is a novel of such power that the reader will be unable to forget its images and its forecast. Set in the near future, it describes life in what was once the United States and is now called the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy that has reacted to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate by reverting to, and going beyond, the repressive intolerance of the original Puritans. The regime takes the Book of Genesis absolutely at its word, with bizarre consequences for the women and men in its population. The story is told through the eyes of Offred, one of the unfortunate Handmaids under the new social order. In condensed but eloquent prose, by turns cool-eyed, tender, despairing, passionate, and wry, she reveals to us the dark corners behind the establishment’s calm facade, as certain tendencies now in existence are carried to their logical conclusions. The Handmaid's Tale is funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing. It is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and a tour de force.
The Handmaid's Tale at a glance
- Author
- Margaret Atwood
- Books published
- 2
- Companion stories
- 1
- Still to come
- None announced yet
- First book published
- 1985
Questions readers ask
Is there going to be another Handmaid's Tale book?
Margaret Atwood hasn't announced one yet. If a new Handmaid's Tale book is announced, AuthorPing will let you know.
How many books are in The Handmaid's Tale?
2 books have been published in The Handmaid's Tale so far, plus 1 companion story.
What order should I read The Handmaid's Tale in?
Read the main books in order: 1. The Handmaid’s Tale, 2. The Testaments. The 1 companion can be read alongside them.
Is The Handmaid's Tale finished?
Margaret Atwood hasn't announced another Handmaid's Tale book, so it may be finished. Series do come back, though, and AuthorPing will let you know if a new one is announced.
How will I know when the next Handmaid's Tale book is announced?
Follow The Handmaid's Tale in AuthorPing, a free app for iPhone and Android. AuthorPing notifies you when a series or author you love has a new book coming out and shows a countdown to every release.
More from Margaret Atwood
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Coming very soon to iPhone and Android.