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The Awakening and Selected Stories

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( 2,521 ratings, 244 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Awakening and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin explores themes of self-discovery and personal freedom. The central tale follows Edna Pontellier as she seeks independence and self-understanding beyond the confines of conventional societal roles. This book also includes other stories that delve into complex issues of identity and womanhood in the late 19th century.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this collection if you are drawn to powerful stories centred around themes of self-discovery and societal expectations. With its blend of poignant narrative and richly drawn characters, it's ideal for readers who appreciate classic literature that explores women's interior lives and the struggle for personal freedom.

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A woman who dares to defy expectations of society in pursuit of her desire. But a century after her death, it is regarded as the author's achievement. This book shows transformation of Edna Pontellier, a young wife and mother, who - with tragic consequences - refuses to be caged by married and domestic life, and claims for herself erotic freedom.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Awakening and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin is a groundbreaking depiction of a woman who dares to defy the expectations of society in the pursuit of her desire.

When The Awakening was first published in 1899, charges of sordidness and immorality seemed to consign it into obscurity and irreparably damage its author's reputation. However, a century after her death, it is widely regarded as Kate Chopin's great achievement. Through careful, subtle changes of style, Chopin illustrates the transformation of Edna Pontellier, a young wife and mother, who—with tragic consequences—refuses to be caged by married and domestic life, and claims for herself moral and erotic freedom.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With over 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Awakening and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin is frequently praised for its ahead-of-its-time exploration of female autonomy and sexual liberation. Reviewers often highlight its rich depiction of Creole culture and complex character portrayals. While some praise the novel's depth, others historically have found it controversial for its themes and character actions. Known for its powerful narrative, the book continues to spark discussion on women's roles in society.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780142437322

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 April 2003

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 208g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Kate Chopin (1851-1904) did not write until she was thirty-six years old. Her first novel, At Fault (1890), had difficulty finding a publisher, so she brought it out at her own expense. From her many stories, she culled two well-reviewed collections- Bayou Folk in 1894 and A Night in Acadie in 1897. The Awakening, now her best-known work, appeared in 1899. Claire Vaye Watkins is the author of Battleborn and Gold Fame Citrus. Her stories and essays have appeared in Granta, One Story, The Paris Review, Ploughshares, and elsewhere. A Guggenheim Fellow, one of the National Book Foundation's "5 Under 35" and Granta's "Best Young American Novelists," Claire is the director and co-founder of the Mojave School, a festival of art and literature in the Mojave Desert.

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