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The Testaments

WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 2019

Margaret Atwood author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:1st Sep '20

Should be back in stock very soon

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The Testaments cover

This sequel to The Handmaid's Tale reveals what happened to Offred and explores the lives of women in a crumbling Gilead. Their stories intertwine with Aunt Lydia.

In The Testaments, Margaret Atwood returns to the dystopian world of Gilead, exploring the lives of its inhabitants through the eyes of three distinct narrators. This sequel to The Handmaid's Tale delves into the complexities of power, rebellion, and the enduring spirit of those who resist oppression. Set fifteen years after Offred's story, the narrative unfolds as the Republic of Gilead begins to crumble from within, revealing the cracks in its totalitarian regime.

The story centers on two young women, each shaped by their experiences in Gilead, who confront the formidable Aunt Lydia. Their journeys intertwine in unexpected ways, showcasing the varied paths individuals take in their quest for freedom and identity. Through their eyes, readers witness the moral dilemmas and sacrifices that define life under a repressive regime, challenging the boundaries of loyalty and belief.

The Testaments also includes thought-provoking discussion points and an insightful interview with Atwood, shedding light on the real-life inspirations behind both this novel and The Handmaid's Tale. As Atwood masterfully weaves together themes of resistance, survival, and the quest for agency, readers are left contemplating the implications of Gilead's legacy and the resilience of the human spirit.

Thrilling and blistering * Daily Telegraph *
An incredible follow-up * the Sun, *Pick of the Week* *
Gripping, pacy and beautifully written -- Justine Jordan * Guardian *
Finding hope in a hopeless place, this is everything The Handmaid’s Tale fans wanted and more. Prepare to hold your breath throughout, and to cry real tears at the end. My book of the year -- Kayleigh Dray * Stylist *
The Testaments is Atwood at her best, in its mixture of generosity, insight and control. The prose is adroit, direct, beautifully turned. All over the reading world, the history books are being opened to the next blank page and Atwood’s name is written at the top of it. To read this book is to feel the world turning -- Anne Enright * Guardian *
I gobbled it down... Atwood has an incredible intellectual nimbleness that challenges us constantly and poses the question that lies like a pearl inside the shell of this frighteningly readable novel, "Before you sit in judgement, how would you behave in Gilead?" -- Allison Pearson * Sunday Telegraph *
No one needs another recommendation for The Testaments and still I have to say how thrilling it is when a book manages to exceed all expectations. How did she manage to make darkness feel so effortless? How did she think to inject humour where no humour should exist? Because she’s Margaret Atwood, and she can do anything -- Ann Patchett
A cracker: urgent, moving and as tense as any thriller... there's a darkly rebellious humour, ingenious wordplay and, of course, chillingly timely warnings. Atwood is long overdue a Nobel -- Hepzibah Anderson * Mail on Sunday *
At its heart, this gripping novel is a rallying call for action... In Atwood's world, resistance is never futile -- Mernie Gilmore * Daily Express *
The must-read novel of the year -- a perfect gift for bookworms and fans of the TV series * Sunday Telegraph *

  • Joint winner of Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2019

ISBN: 9781784708214

Dimensions: 196mm x 127mm x 33mm

Weight: 384g

448 pages