The cover for Margaret Atwood's "The Testaments" is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Penguin Random House Canada
Republished January 31, 2019 - 12:42 PM
Original Publication Date January 31, 2019 - 12:01 PM
TORONTO - Margaret Atwood is offering a glimpse into her much-hyped sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale."
The celebrated novelist tweeted an image of "The Testaments" front cover and it features the outline of a woman wearing the story's famous bonnet and cloak.
But instead of the standard red colour described in "The Handmaid's Tale," the attire is bright green.
Hidden within the minimalist graphic is the form of another woman with arms outstretched, and without the cloak and bonnet.
Book publisher McClelland & Stewart has said the story picks up 15 years after protagonist Offred stepped into the unknown. It also features the testaments of three female narrators from Gilead, the totalitarian society in which women are treated as property of the state.
Atwood has said little about the storyline, except that it was partly inspired by "the world we've been living in."
"The Testament" is slated to be released Sept. 10 and is available for pre-order.
Atwood remained tight-lipped Thursday despite seeming to tweet a clue to what's in store for the dystopian saga.
"My publishers have locked me in the Naughty Room so I won't be able to hint," Atwood tweeted from her verified account, @MargaretAtwood.
In a separate statement provided by her publisher, Atwood heaped praise on illustrator Noma Bar for his minimalist art.
"It can't have been easy, but he came through with a cover that is fresh and intriguing: within an apparently simple double image, there are hidden figures to be discovered — just as in the book. I hope you like it as much as I do."
First released in 1985, "The Handmaid's Tale" has enjoyed renewed popularity in recent years, and inspired the Emmy Award-winning series of the same name starring Elisabeth Moss as Offred.
The Toronto-shot series is heading into its third season and has eclipsed the events of the original novel. McClelland & Stewart says the sequel will not be connected to the TV adaptation, seen on Bravo and Hulu.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2019