The Testaments
The Handmaid’s Tale • Book 2
Narrated by Ann Dowd, Bryce Dallas Howard, Mae Whitman, Derek Jacobi, Tantoo Cardinal, Margaret Atwood
Why Listen to This Audiobook?
Margaret Atwood answers her own thirty-year cliffhanger, then reads part of it to you herself.
- Great if you want: closure, multiple POVs, and Gilead's inner machinery exposed
- Listening experience: tense and propulsive — three timelines converging toward one revelation
- Narration: Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia is quietly chilling; Atwood reading her own prose is a genuine treat
- Skip if: you haven't read The Handmaid's Tale — the payoff won't land
About This Audiobook
Fifteen years have passed since the theocratic regime of Gilead tightened its grip on the former United States, and cracks are beginning to show in the totalitarian state's foundation. Three women from vastly different positions within this oppressive society find their lives converging as secrets emerge and resistance movements gain momentum. A powerful Aunt who has witnessed Gilead's rise from within its highest circles, a young woman raised as the privileged daughter of a Commander, and a girl growing up in Canada with mysterious origins each hold pieces of a larger truth that could shake the regime to its core.
The stellar ensemble cast transforms Atwood's sequel into a theatrical experience that rivals any stage production. Ann Dowd brings gravitas and complexity to her narrator, while Bryce Dallas Howard and Mae Whitman capture the distinct voices of their characters with nuanced emotional range. Derek Jacobi and Tantoo Cardinal provide expert support, and Margaret Atwood's own participation adds authentic weight to key moments. The multi-narrator format works exceptionally well in audio, allowing listeners to fully immerse themselves in each woman's perspective as their stories weave together with mounting tension and urgency.