Author(s): Kate Chopin

Fiction

Published in 1899, The Awakening ignited a firestorm of controversy. Reviewers criticized the book for its tacit endorsement of adultery, its frank depiction of a woman's sexual frustration, and its overt rejection of conventional expectations for women's roles and behaviour. Chopin's best-known and acclaimed work is presented here with a selection of her other fiction, as well as her poetry, journalism, and letters. A selection of contemporary reviews and historical materials on women's rights, sexuality, and etiquette, are also included.