The Canadian author Margaret Atwood announced last November on twitter the release of a sequel to her 1985 feminist dystopia, The Handmaid’s Tale. Narrated by three female characters, it is called The Testaments and it will be set fifteen years after the final scene of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Made into an award-winning TV series by Hulu in 2017, The Handmaid’s Tale is a harrowing account of a future where climate change has fueled the rise of Christian fundamentalists, who overthrow the US government to establish a theocracy where women are subjected to many forms of sexual discrimination.
The timing and content of the TV series have made it symbolic of the politics of the current US administration, with many seeing Atwood’s characters and stories as a reflection of the current rise of conservative Christian ideologies.
Margaret Atwood, winner of the 2000 Booker Prize, is one of the leading voices of speculative fiction. She’s written critically acclaimed works such as The MaddAddam Trilogy, Cat’s Eye and The Blind Assassin.
Speaking about what made her write a follow up, Atwood said, “Dear Readers: Everything you've ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we've been living in.”
The Testaments will be available worldwide from September 10, 2019.
