In the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election victory, readers are flocking to dystopian novels, seeking solace, and perhaps a chilling warning, in fictional worlds that mirror the anxieties of our own times.
Margaret Atwood’s chilling classic, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ has seen a dramatic surge in sales, climbing an astounding 400 places on the US Amazon bestsellers chart to claim the third spot. This dystopian masterpiece, originally published in 1985, depicts a chilling future where a fundamentalist regime strips women of their agency, restricting their reproductive rights under the guise of Christian morality. The novel’s themes resonate deeply with critics of Trump’s political platform, particularly his stance on abortion rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Atwood’s novel isn’t alone in its resurgence. George Orwell’s ‘1984,’ a chilling vision of a totalitarian Britain where mass surveillance and propaganda control the public, has also climbed the charts. Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian novel, ‘Fahrenheit 451,’ named after the temperature at which books are incinerated, has likewise experienced a surge in popularity. This novel follows a fireman forced to burn books and other sources of information that the totalitarian government deems dangerous.
But it’s not just fiction that’s finding a renewed audience. Timothy Snyder’s historical analysis, ‘On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,’ has also seen a significant spike in sales. This book, released in 2017 during Trump’s first term, provides a stark warning about the dangers of authoritarianism and the potential for a decline into tyranny.
While dystopian and critical works have experienced a surge, pro-Trump titles have also seen a resurgence. Melania Trump’s memoir, ‘Melania,’ topped the Amazon bestseller list, while Vice President-elect JD Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ landed in the top 10. Donald Trump’s photo book, ‘Save America,’ also found a spot in the top 30.
The trends reflect a divided nation grappling with the anxieties of a polarized political landscape. As Shannon DeVito, director of books at Barnes & Noble, aptly describes, “Fiction and non-fiction books that feature fascism, feminism, dystopian worlds, and both right- and left-leaning politics rocketed up our sales charts with the election results.” The rise of these titles underscores the powerful role literature plays in reflecting and shaping our understanding of the world, providing both a mirror and a window into the anxieties, hopes, and fears of our times.
