In this early example of feminist writing, Edna Pontellier, a young
wife and mother, rejects the strict societal confines for women in late
1800s America and expresses a rare and powerful form of freedom.
Set in New Orleans at the turn of the century, The Awakening navigates
the moral, emotional, and intellectual journey of Edna as she balances
self-discovery and her growing independence with married life and
societal expectations in late nineteenth-century America.
This incredible exploration of femininity, freedom, and sexual desire
was rejected upon initial publication in 1899 due to its unorthodox
messages regarding social attitudes towards women and motherhood. Now
recognised as a feminist masterpiece, Katie Chopin's novella is an
important read in modernist American literature.
Also featured in this volume are the following short stories by Chopin:
- Beyond the Bayou
- Ma'ame Pelagie
- Desiree's Baby
- A Respectable Woman
- The Kiss
- A Pair of Silk Stockings
- The Locket
- A Reflection