An article I wrote for The Curious Reader to celebrate the release of Margaret Atwood’s new novel The Testaments.
Margaret Atwood did not launch the feminist dystopia genre. But by writing its most visible work, she helped bring the genre into the popular consciousness. From the post-World War II dystopian boom to the American feminist movement, Atwood drew on a variety of influences in writing her landmark novel The Handmaid’s Tale. More than 30 years after its publication, this feminist dystopia continues to inspire readers and authors with its relevant message and well-crafted story.