Oops! Copies of Atwood's much-anticipated new book released early by mistake

Atwood's 'The Testaments' is one of the most hotly anticipated sequels of recent times and retailers were under a strict embargo not to sell it head of its official release date. Photo: AFP

Copies of Margaret Atwood's long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale were mistakenly sent to readers early, the publisher said this week, sending fans of the Canadian author into a frenzy and angering independent booksellers.

Penguin Random House had instructed retailers to keep The Testaments strictly under wraps until its official release on Sept 10, but several online customers have already received the much-anticipated novel.