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The Awakening and Selected Stories

By Kate Chopin
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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 the journey of Edna Pontellier as she seeks personal freedom and self-discovery against the societal norms of the late 19th century. The story delves into themes of identity, feminism, and the constraints of traditional roles. Accompanied by selected short stories, the collection highlights Chopin's skill in portraying the complexities of women's inner lives.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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 book if you appreciate stories exploring themes of identity and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of the American South at the turn of the century. The collection delves into complex social and personal issues, offering rich character studies and beautifully atmospheric settings. If you're drawn to narratives that challenge societal norms and provide deep, introspective reflections, this book may appeal to you.

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Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Herbert S. Stone and Co., Chicago, in 1899.

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

A Vintage Classics edition of a feminist literary landmark – the daring story of a woman's search for personal freedom that was so controversial in 1899 that it ended its author's career.

With an effortless, sure-handed artistry, Kate Chopin tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a young mother and model wife, whose romantic involvement with a young man at a seaside resort allows her for the first time to imagine a freer life.

Upon her return to New Orleans, Edna leaves her husband's home for her own cottage, pursues her artistic ambitions, and begins an affair, only to discover that the constraints of social custom are more powerful than she had thought.

Contemporary readers were shocked by the frank, unapologetic treatment of adultery in The Awakening, but over the ensuing century the novel went on to achieve the status of a classic for its visionary prescience and narrative brilliance.

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 has been likened to a "Creole Bovary," highlighting its portrayal of a woman's quest for independence in a restrictive society. The novel is noted for its rich depiction of Creole life and a narrative style that combines realism with a deep exploration of its characters' inner worlds. The complexity of its protagonist and the societal challenges she faces continue to resonate with readers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780593468791

Publisher: Random House USA Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 February 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Vintage Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 132.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 368

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Kate Chopin Literary Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

KATE CHOPIN (1851-1904) brought out her first novel, At Fault, at her own expense in 1890. It was followed by two well-reviewed collections of her short stories- Bayou Folk in 1894 and A Night in Acadie in 1897. The Awakening appeared in 1899 to an explosion of disapproving reviews and the cancellation of her next book contract. However, within a decade of her early death at the age of fifty-four, her literary genius began to be widely recognized. ABOUT THE INTRODUCER- JANE SMILEY is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and the Last Hundred Years Trilogy- Some Luck, Early Warning, and Golden Age. Her most recent novels are Perestroika in Paris and A Dangerous Business. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she has also received the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature.

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