Kate Chopin Books

“Perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one’s life.” Kate Chopin was enjoying wide popularity as a writer, mainly of short stories, when her second novel, The Awakening, was published to widespread criticism of its immorality. A wake-up call to women all over the country, this landmark novel of early American feminism tells of a Louisiana wife who discovers the strength of her own sexuality and tries to wrench it from the hands of a patriarchal society. And just as Edna Pontellier is ostracized for trying to master her own sexual fate, so did Chopin’s reputation suffer after she wrote this book. Today The Awakening is considered a masterpiece and, along with Chopin’s short stories, has set a standard for younger generations of women who have learned to value their independence and authenticity. Edited and with an Introduction by Barbara H. Solomon and with a New Afterword by Roxane Gay.

From Louisiana's remote bayous to its gilded cities, five startling stories of awakening by one of fin-de-siécle America's most daring writers.

Set in the late 19th century, this collection of short stories captures the life and culture of the Louisiana bayou. Through vivid characters and rich storytelling, Kate Chopin explores themes of identity, love, and the complexities of human relationships. The narratives reflect the unique Southern landscape and the diverse voices of its inhabitants, offering a poignant glimpse into their struggles and joys. Chopin's keen observations and lyrical prose highlight the intricacies of life in a changing world.

"In works set on ruined Louisiana plantations and in bustling New Orleans, Kate Chopin wrote with unblinking honesty about the strictures of propriety, the illusions of love and the realities of marriage, and the persistence of a past scarred by slavery and war. Her stories challenged contemporary mores as much by their sensuousness as their politics. Complete Novels and Stories gathers all of Chopin's extraordinary fiction for the first time.". "The volume also contains stories Chopin never collected, including those meant for "A Vocation and a Voice," a book canceled by her publisher in 1900; stories Chopin never tried to publish, such as the erotically daring "The Storm"; and "Ti Frere," "A Horse Story," and "Alexandre's Wonderful Experience," the stories found in a long-lost cache of Chopin's papers."--BOOK JACKET.

"A concise introduction to the 19th-century writings of a pre-feminist author, this compilation features the complete text of The Awakening, Kate Chopin's best known and most studied novel. An additional selection of short stories includes "Lilacs," "The Story of an Hour," and "A Pair of Silk Stockings.""--

Kate Chopin. Also includes "Regret." In these selections, two women examine their lives, one looking forward to the future, the other regretting the past. 34 pages. Tale Blazers.

A carefully curated selection of stories from "one of the foremothers of 20th-century literature and feminist thought" (The New York Times), known for her deep emotional acuity and nuanced depictions of women Today, Kate Chopin is widely considered a pioneering and influential feminist voice in American letters. Her fiction, though not embraced in her day, has endured into our own, and grapples with fundamental questions of marriage, sexuality, race, and the role of women in a modern society. The nine stories collected here elaborate on Chopin’s timeless themes while evoking the rich Louisiana setting so often featured in her work.

This compilation features two short-story collections that highlight Kate Chopin's mastery of realism, showcasing her ability to capture the complexities of human emotions and societal norms. Through vivid storytelling and rich character development, Chopin explores themes of identity, gender roles, and the struggles of women in a changing world, solidifying her reputation as a significant voice in American literature.

Five daring tales of passion, decadence, and betrayalThe sensuality that suffuses the work of Kate Chopin (1851-1904) startles us with its modernity. Whether evoking the complex world of Creole New Orleans, where racial boundaries are burst by erotic gestures, often with tragic results, or recounting the simple sacrifices made in the name of love, she makes human emotions come instantly, dramatically alive. Her classic novel of sexual and spiritual rebirth, The awakening, is collected with her best stories in Penguin Classics.--back cover

Kate Chopin (born Katherine O'Flaherty) (1850-1904) was an American author of short stories and novels, mostly of a Louisiana Creole background. She is now considered to have been a forerunner of feminist authors of the 20th century. From 1889 to 1902, she wrote short stories for both children and adults which were published in such magazines as Atlantic Monthly, Vogue, The Century, and Harper's Youth's Companion. Her major works were two short story collections, Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Acadie (1897). Her important short stories included The Father of Desiree's Baby, a tale of miscegenation in antebellum Louisiana; The Story of an Hour and The Storm. Chopin also wrote two novels: At Fault (1890) and The Awakening (1899), which is set in New Orleans and Grand Isle. The people in her stories are usually inhabitants of Louisiana. Many of her works are set about Natchitoches in north central Louisiana. In time, literary critics determined that Chopin addressed the concerns of women in all places and for all times in her literature.