OffredisaHandmaidinTheRepublicofGilead,areligioustotalitarianstateinwhatwasformerlyknownastheUnitedStates.SheisplacedinthehouseholdofTheCommander,FredWaterford–herassignedname,Offred,means‘ofFred’.Shehasonlyonefunction:tobreed.IfOffredrefusestoenterintosexualservitudetorepopulateadevastatedworld,shewillbehanged.Yetevenarepressivestatecannoteradicatehopeanddesire.Assherecallsherpre-revolutionlifeinflashbacks,Offredmustnavigatethroughtheterrifyinglandscapeoftortureandpersecutioninthepresentday,andbetweentwomenuponwhichherfuturehangs.
