The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, published in 1985. It is set in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian society where women have lost all their rights. In this society, women are split into castes based on their reproductive capabilities, with Handmaids being forced into reproductive servitude. The novel centers on Offred, a Handmaid who serves under a Commander and his wife, Serena Joy, an activist-turned-architect of the regime. The Handmaid's Tale was adapted into a successful TV series in 2017, earning several awards, including Emmys and Golden Globes.