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Print to the fore at The Testaments launch

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The release of Margaret Atwood’s long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale has resulted in a Harry Potter-esque level of excitement among fans of the author, with events taking place from midnight on publication day.

Atwood’s The Testaments was officially released today (10 September) more than 30 years after the publication of its predecessor, which has a cult following and was also the subject of a recent TV adaptation.

The 432pp hardback of The Testaments weighs 670g and was printed by Clays. The firm’s Bungay factory also featured in a special teaser video by Vintage Books, part of Penguin Random House, showing the title being printed ready for its official launch (below).

The UK print run was not available at the time of writing, but the publication has involved six-figure print runs in other parts of the world, with 500,000 advance copies being printed in the US.

Hundreds of people gathered in London at Waterstone’s Piccadilly yesterday evening ahead of the midnight launch, at which Atwood read from the book standing against a backdrop of printed placards. Themed cupcakes and “craftivism” involving embroidery and placard-making also featured at the event.

Bookshops around the country have held special events to mark the launch. 

There will also be a live broadcast this evening from the National Theatre to hundreds of cinemas around the world. The theatre has been illuminated with the striking bright green and dark blue cover design by graphic artist Noma Bar.

“I am delighted that the launch of The Testaments will take place not only in London on 10th September, but also by live-streaming to over 1,000 cinemas around the world. I can’t be in all the places at once in my analogue body, but I look forward to being with so many readers via the big screen,” Atwood said.

The launch has been supported by out-of-home poster advertising.

Atwood also features on the cover of the new issue of The Gentlewoman magazine, published today, and was on the cover of last weekend's Sunday Times Style magazine. 

Separately, publisher Virago has launched a new collectors’ edition of Atwood’s other books, including The Blind Assassin.

The Testaments has been shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize and Atwood is the hot favourite to win.

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