Product Description
At Fault is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Kate Chopin is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Kate Chopin then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

At Fault by Kate Chopin
Because I loved The Awakening, I decided to read one of Chopin's lesser-known novels, At Fault, which is set in late nineteenth century Louisiana.This novel deals with many issues, such as religion, divorce, alcoholism, and violence, in a relatively short length of text.The main characters are Therese and David, who meet through business and fall in love.David is a divorced Unitarian, and Therese, a widowed Catholic.Because of David's religion and divorce, Therese declines his eventual marriage proposal, and instead convinces him to return to his estranged ex-wife, Fanny--which proves tragic and disastrous.There are also some tertiary, though equally important characters in the story--Melicent and Gregoir, for one.Like Therese and David, they have a relationship of sorts, but Melicent will not condescend to Gregoir's advances because they are of a different class.What this novel deals quite successfully with, if such can be done, is that in our society (and especially back during the late 19th century) we are often told that we should bridle our passions lest they get the best of us.However, there are just as many consequences, and perhaps many more, for NOT going with our passions and our feelings.In containing our love for others and attempting to conduct life as if such feelings do not exist, is like a form of death and destruction--akin to William Blake's sentiment that "he who desires and acts not breeds pestilence."Once Therese realizes that David's returning to his ex-wife has caused much untold suffering--she has sort of a "Dark Night of the Soul" moment where she asks herself, over and over again, "Was I right?Was I right?"This was indeed the turning point in the novel, where I believe that Therese began to question what she knows, and what she thought she believed about what is "right."I will leave the rest of the story as a mystery for those who wish to not have it spoiled.I highly recommend this short, yet exquisitely written book.

Try this one...
If you've read The Awakening and could appreciate the ideas and writing, but were not as impressed with it as others tend to be, try At Fault.It's compact story that I wished was developed further because of its originality and intrigue.Don't take Kate Chopin off your list after The Awakening--try this one!

Charming tale
A lovely, remarkable, resourceful widow running a plantation in Louisiana; her handsome, country-simple, honest, deep-feeling Creole nephew; a divorced businessman who builds a mill on her property; the mill-manager's self-possessed younger sister; his depressed, alcoholic wife, who comes to live with him; an engaging supporting cast of Negro servants and local townspeople; two problematic one-sided love affairs; the murder of an evil young man; the murder of one of the main characters; a disastrous reconciliation; a devastating storm ...These are some of the ingredients of this charming Southern novel which defies easy categorization.In the end, what shines through all the twists and turns of the plot is the inherent, admirable goodness of the two main characters. ... Read more

Product Description
ENDURING LITERATURE ILLUMINATED BY PRACTICAL SCHOLARSHIP

EACH ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES:

• A concise introduction that gives readers important background information

• A chronology of the author's life and work

• A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context

• An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations

• Detailed explanatory notes

• Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work

• Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction

• A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience

Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential.

SERIES EDITED BY CYNTHIA BRANTLEY JOHNSON ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Kate Chopin Stories
Excellent book of short stories from historic New Orleans with details on the social order of the time and loving descriptions of the city and the surrounding environs. Rich in exploration of the inner life of people as well as day to dayliving. Not afraid to venture into dark emotions. Not for everyone.

Condition not as listed
The book was listed as "Good Condition", the book I received was yellowed, stained and old.

The Awakening
This was purchased for my Comp.2 class. I am enjoying reading it. I haven't finished it yet, but I will respond more when I do.

katechopin
The edition is well done since it has a pretty good introduction to the themes and notes as well as excerpts from critics and suggestions for discussion.

What makes ist 4 instead of 5 stars is actually that the information concerning the stories included in the edition did not correspond to the actual book which was kind of a deception because I was expecting to find "The story of an hour".

Ground breaking story
Imagine being a woman living in the south in the late 1800's.You are married, have two children and very comfortable life style--one might argue your life is near perfect.Overtime you come to realize that your life is not fulfilling. Reading Kate Chopin's short story The Awakening will take the reader through a personal passage in a woman's life when options were very limited. Even more astounding is the story was written and published during the time when the story takes place--scandalous.

The other stories in this book will also give the reader insights into the life and times of people living in New Orleans.They too are engaging.





... Read more

Product Description
Beautifully designed edition of Kate Chopin's classic "The Awakening". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (378)

Do not buy on CD
I bought this book on CD--please don't make my mistake.

It sounds as if it was taken from a well used taped version.Each CD starts out fine, but around the second chapter static begins.By the middle of each CD it becomes difficult to hear the words.By around the seventh or eighth chapter of each CD it becomes unintelligible.I was dissappointed to say the least.I may at a later date purchase the book so I can at least finish the story, but right now I'm just not interested.

Not exact
I bought this because I had to wright a paper for class on "The Awakening", and needed to save some time by listening to it on my daily commute. If you are buying the cd for this reason, I would not recommend buying the cd. The cd is not exact to the book (not word for word). But if you are buying it for the story, it is not a bad cd.

Self- absorbed~~~~!

Chalk off another classic that I expected I might like much more than I actually did!

Edna Pontellier came across like a woman who was totally "self-absorbed" more than an early 'feminist' in the truest sense.

Her husband observes "He thought it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so little his conversation."

She valued so little...even her children, that I couldn't find any sympathy for Ms Edna Pontellier or her longing for passion than eluded her because she didn't seem capable of giving of herself in truth to anyone.

But the writing was rather engaging in places and so I gave it 3 stars instead of 2.

Not the right ISBN Number
I tried getting the advertised ISBN number for The Awakening twice and Amazon still managed to screw it up. Why list the book as a version that it is not?!! The listed ISBN was 1438260997, but what I recieved was 1438260990. I needed the exact version so that I could share the same page numbers as my reading group, but now I have to scramble to find what we are talking about. Very dissapointing service. The customer service rep sent me a generic e-mail (probably computer generated) saying that the same mistake would not happen again, but it did. I am never using this website again.

The Awakening
Arrived a bit later than we thought and not so much in the condition that was advertised. ... Read more

Product Description
From ruined Louisiana plantations to bustling, cosmopolitan New Orleans, Kate Chopin wrote with unflinching honesty about propriety and its strictures, the illusions of love and the realities of marriage, and the persistence of a past scarred by slavery and war. Her stories of fiercely independent women, culminating in her masterpiece The Awakening (1899), challenged contemporary mores as much by their sensuousness as their politics, and today seem decades ahead of their time. Now, The Library of America collects all of Chopin's novels and stories as never before in one authoritative volume.

The explosive novel At Fault (1890) centers on a love triangle between a strong-willed young widow, a stiff St. Louis businessman, and the man's alcoholic wife. In the story collections Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Acadie (1897), Chopin transforms the local color sketch into taut, perfectly calibrated tales of post-Civil War bayou culture. In The Awakening, the now-classic novel that scandalized many of her contemporaries and effectively ended her writing career, Chopin tells the story of a restless, unsatisfied woman who embarks on a quixotic search for fulfillment.

The volume also includes all the stories not collected by Chopin, including those meant for "A Vocation and a Voice," a projected volume that her publisher canceled in 1900, and three stories that were found in 1992 in a long-lost cache of Chopin's papers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

One of my Top Ten authors/books
Excellent book written by a very independent woman of the late 1800's So much so she was ostrasized for her writings.The female liberation movement of the 1960's broughther writing back to new generations of women.She is more appreciated by today's women for her views. The Awakening is the best story in the book,but all of Chopin's stories are memorable and worth the read!

Essential to the study of Kate Chopin
This is one of the fine books in the Library of America series, essential to anyone who wishes to read all literature by Kate Chopin. It is the only complete anthology of her fiction.

A Fine Collection
This book is a great collection of Kate Chopin's writings. Chopin truly has a way of portraying women in her writings much differently than society in her day believed they should be. If you read her works knowing this, you will come to respect her work the way I have. I believe that in a time when women weren't allowed to speak out on the injustice they faced in society, and the belief that they couldn't be independent sexual creatures, Kate Chopin was making a stand in her writings to express how complex, independent, and sexual they really were. She is an amazing writer and this is an amazing collection.

Story of the Hour
Kate Chopin's `Story of the Hour', was an interesting story. Not necessarily in a bad way at all. I mean you except it to go one way but it goes another. This story is about a woman, who discovers that her husband is dead, but she's neither upset nor devastated, she is excited.
Mrs. Mallad is the only character the author really describes, as young woman with a fair calm face. She could be described as very emotional. Why is she so happy that her husband is dead?
The story starts at Mrs. Mallad's house, she is in her room. An excellent theme for this story is `To be excited about something is not always a good thing.'
The strength for this story is most definitely the plot. It keeps your attention and allows you to see a different view.A weakness is the description; really the story only describes one thing, Mrs.Mallad. I think that the story needs to tell us more about her past life and what happened during those couple of years.
Overall this story was OKAY.

"The story of an hour" by Kate Chopin
"The story of an hour" by Kate Chopin was a good short story. Not bad, but good. It's about a woman named Mrs. Mallad that learns that her husband is dead. She then thinks she is free until certain events ruin it. Mrs. Mallad is the main character and the only one the author describes. She is young with a fair, calm face. She is also very emotional!
The story starts at Mrs. Mallad's house and in her room. A possible theme is to not get your hopes up. The strength in the story is the plot. It keeps you on your feet. For the weakness, I would have to say description. The story should've said what her past was like with her husband. Good or bad?
Overall "The story of an hour" was good.
... Read more

Product Description
This Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Classic includes a glossary and notes to help the modern reader contend with Kate Chopin's themes and language.

As the title suggests, The Awakening, published in 1899, tells the story of one woman's emergence from the conventional Victorian role of wife and mother to face the social consequences of seeking personal fulfillment. More than a mere argument in support of freedom and equality for women, it is a compelling depiction of the subtle burdens that had been traditionally borne by women and the awareness that perhaps there are options. ... Read more

Product Description
This Second Edition of a perennial favorite in the Norton Critical Edition series represents an extensive revision of its predecessor.The text is that of the first edition of the novel, published by Herbert S. Stone in 1899. It has been annotated by the editor and includes translations of French phrases and information about New Orleans locales, customs, and lore, the Bayou region, and Creole culture. "Bibliographical and Historical Contexts", expanded and introduced by a new Editor’s Note, presents biographical, historical, and cultural documents contemporary with the novel’s publication. Included are a biographical essay by the acclaimed Chopin biographer Emily Toth, "An Etiquette/Advice Book Sampler" with selections from the conduct books of the period in which Chopin lived and wrote, and period fashion plates from Harper’s Bazar. A comprehensive "Criticism" section, introduced by a new Editor’s Note, contains expanded selections from hard-to-find contemporary reviews of the novel; two letters of mysterious origin written in response to the novel; and Chopin’s "Retraction," which followed The Awakening’s negative reception. These are followed by twenty-seven interpretive essays, twelve of them new to the Second Edition, that provide a variety of perspectives on The Awakening, including essays by Cynthia Griffin Wolff, Nancy Walker, Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Paula A. Treichler, Sandra M. Gilbert, Lee R. Edwards, Patricia S. Yaeger, Elizabeth Ammons, and Elaine Showalter. A Chronology of Chopin’s life and an updated Selected Bibliography are also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Thoughtful, not breathless
This small volume reads like a lazy afternoon on a balmy day in the Big Easy. This is the story of a young woman, Edna, married, with two small boys, who begins to sense an unfolding yearning within herself, which she is unsure how to fulfill. When the book was written in 1899, it was considered scandalous and avant-garde, garnering scathing reviews. By today's standards it is slow and undulating, barely shocking, and somewhat slow paced, considering what Edna undertakes as she tries to reconcile her longings with social convention. This book takes one back to an era when literature relied on style, language and imagery to provoke a reader. It is a tight psychological journey, which may leave you thoughtful rather than breathless.

Beautifully written
This was beautiful; the kind of book that makes you realize just how much more powerful fiction is when there is so much you cannot say and have to use every creative fiber to express yourself. I'd heard all kinds of things about The Awakening before reading it, since it was controversial at the time of publication in 1899 and has been elevated to a cult classic of sorts. It's even more stunning when you realize WHY it was so controversial. Since the synopsis indicates that it's about a married woman who desires another, younger man she meets at a summer resort, I thought it would be along the lines of Lawrence - and The Awakening is often spoken of in the same breath as Lady Chatterley's Lover - and there would be all the imagery and language issues you'd assume would come with a story like this and that association, but that's not it at all. There's not a single forbidden word or scandalous passage. It's more like a long dream sequence or a Bronte poem, so beautifully told it's like music for the heart and eyes. That sounds trite but I truly was moved by Chopin's sparing and lyrical use of language. That kind of artistry is a reminder of why I love reading. There are so many poor and mediocre books out there that I almost forget sometimes what it's like to experience the joy of truly brilliant writing.

Edna's attraction to Robert may be the catalyst - the `awakening' of the title - but actually just marks the dawning of a new overall awareness in herself, and it becomes much more complex than the mere appeal of another man. Rather, she comes to realize that she is not fully living life; that she's not entirely sure who she is, and feels stifled by society and its expectations. She has an intense, painful longing to free herself. The fact that the discontent of a fictional female character was such a topic of scandal is, to me, the most telling. Obviously nobody in those days wanted to hear, even in fiction, that a privileged wife and mother might be dissatisfied with her life and want more; that she might harbor passions and undercurrents of feeling not befitting a proper lady of society, and that she might actually attempt to discard what is false or unsatisfying and be true to herself.

I disliked the way it ended, which I won't give away. I see why the author took it there, I suppose. It's worth noting, too, that Kate Chopin had up to that point been a fairly distinguished writer in American literary circles, but was figuratively cast out after the publication of this book and died in near-poverty and obscurity. It was apparently a topic the masses just weren't ready for at the time.

She awakens
The lot of women in the 19th century wasn't a terribly impressive one -- many of them had been reduced to babymakers and inoffensive "property" for the men.

And Kate Chopin caused a massive scandal when she wrote about one woman who drifted from societal normal in "The Awakening," leading to a world of exploration, love, and ultimately tragedy. Her misty, vaguely dreamlike writing can pull a reader into the world of 1900s New Orleans and its society, but her heroine sometimes feels more like a vessel than a fully-realized person.

Edna Pontellier is the wife of successful New Orleans businessman Léonce, and mother of two lovely young boys. Yet she is dissatisfied by her life, and feels no connection to the other wives and mothers, who idolize their motherhood and subservience. And when she encounters handsome young Creole Robert Lebrun while on vacation, she begins to "awake" to the feelings she has left behind during her marriage.

Distancing herself from Leonce and her sons, Edna begins exploring art and emotions that have been denied her by the strictures of her society -- as well as an affair with the flirtatious Alcée Arobin. She even moves out into a cottage of her own, much to the horror of those who thought they knew her. Her romantic feelings have not moved on from Robert, but his return makes her realize how different she has become...

Kate Chopin's most famous work is often cited as a sort of proto-feminist work, with a woman rebelling against the male-dominated role she has been given. The fact that a story about a woman abandoning her husband and kids caused such a scandal only adds to that belief.

But that's a rather restricted label to give such a versatile author, and "Awakening" is a book with too many facets to be so restrained. In many ways Chopin resembles a Southern version of Edith Wharton, exploring the stultifying society that she once dwelled in, and the often-tragic consequences of people -- particularly women -- who dared to step outside those unforgiving boundaries.

Chopin's lush writing elevates this story even further, weaving an atmospheric, vaguely dreamlike web around everyday New Orleans. She makes readers feel the heat of a summer's day, the remote beauty of a party, the eerie majesty of an empty sea. And though "The Awakening" is infused by a feeling of languid dreaminess, Chopin creates a feeling of tension and inevitability that grows as the book goes on. It's almost a shock at the book's finale, when that tension releases in a quiet burst of poetic language.

And to her credit, Chopin is able to make her points about women and society without setting up straw-men. Such characters as "angel of the house" Adèle Ratignolle and the stuffy Leonce (who sees Edna as his personal property and expects her to obey) are examples of the usual society of the time, yet Leonce is a fully realized character who loves -- but can never understand -- his wife.

Perhaps the biggest problem is that Edna herself is at times rather thin as a character. While she has many conflicting desires, she sometimes seems like a mere vessel for all those desires to be displayed over time. But there are some scenes where she does seem like a fully realized person, such as when she meditates on her lack of housewifely virtues, is struck by wild mood swings around her sons, and befriends Mademoiselle Reisz.

"The Awakening" is more than just an early feminist novel -- it's an exquisitely written story about the roads that our own desires can take us down, and the tragedies that can come from it. A must-read, if nothing else for Kate Chopin's powerful writing.

Poignant and Beautiful
Although this book starts of rather slow, it soon becomes riveting as the characters become more developed. As I became acquainted with Edna and the awakening she goes through, I found that I could identify with her on a deeply personal level. Many of us have felt that we are living our lives in a false way, as if we have put up a facade to show to the world. Edna desperately wants to be free of her loveless marriage, but even the man with whom she is in love, and who loves her, will not permit her to break her vows to her husband; she belongs to him. To a modern reader, the story is even more of a tragedy, as her unhappiness seems needless.

This is a short novel, but doesn't suffer from it's length, or lack thereof. There are several fascinating characters, besides Edna and her lover, Robert. There is also the alluring setting of 1890's New Orleans and its Creole community. The Awakening is a terrific example of an early feminist work, and provides a tragic example of the consequences of the foolish "proprieties" demanded by society.

Early Feminism, Early Existensialism
It's important to know before reading this book that Kate Chopin belonged to a no longer used genre called "Creole Writer".The Awakening is very much set in New Orleans and there is frequent use of French or it's Creole equivalents.Fortunately, this Norton Critical Edition provided translations and other explanatory information as footnotes to the text.These aids were much appreciated.

Chopin is not a great American writer.However, she is very good.The plot makes for a compelling read and the ending is a delightful surprise.But what really struck me about this book was how modern, how relevant the story is.Edna's identity crisis, if you'll allow me to call it that, reminded me of very much of Saul Bellow's novella, The Dangling Man.

Bottomline:This book isn't for everyone, but the discerning reader will enjoy it immensely. ... Read more

Product Description
A minor masterpiece, The Awakening was a scandalous book when it arrived from the turn-of-the-century presses. With a heroine who found her husband dull, married life dreary and confining, and motherhood to be bondage, this revolutionary book is still relevant to many.

CliffsComplete combines the full original text of The Awakening with a helpful glossary and CliffsNotes-quality commentary into one volume. You will find:

• A unique pedagogical approach that combines the complete original text with expert commentary following each chapter
• A descriptive bibliography and historical background on the author, the times, and the work itself
• An improved character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
• Sidebar glossaries

Customer Reviews (1)

Inspiring and thought-provoking, in a condensed sort of way
Metzger's analysis and synopsis of THE AWAKENING was carried out so deftly, with such poise, that I began reading the actual novel.Apparently, Kate Chopin's work was a seminal novel in the struggle for women's rights, depicting a woman who decides to drown herself rather than face subordination to a husband, lover, or children.I'm midway through the actual book, and I find that it pales in comparison to the Cliff's Notes.I wish that Mz. Metzger had written the book, and Kate Chopin had written the Cliff's Notes, because Mz. Metzger has a far more pleasant, economical and less turgid writing style.It's hard to get through Kate Chopin's actual book, to be honest, because she pontificates endlessly and tends toward rather unpleasant self-pitying (obviously, since she drowns herself.)I may continue reading the book, but I may stop--since I enjoyed the synopsis so thoroughly, and, thus far, the book is spoiling that. ... Read more

Product Description
Kate Chopin was one of the most individual and adventurous of nineteenth-century American writers, whose fiction explored new and often startling territory.When her most famous story, The Awakening, was first published in 1899, it stunned readers with its frank portrayal of the inner word of Edna Pontellier, and its daring criticisms of the limits of marriage and motherhood.The subtle beauty of her writing was contrasted with her unwomanly and sordid subject-matter: Edna's rejection of her domestic role, and her passionate quest for spiritual, sexual, and artistic freedom. From her first stories, Chopin was interested in independent characters who challenged convention.This selection, freshly edited from the first printing of each text, enables readers to follow her unfolding career as she experimented with a broad range of writing, from tales for children to decadent fin-de siecle sketches.The Awakening is set alongside thirty-two short stories, illustrating the spectrum of the fiction from her first published stories to her 1898 secret masterpiece, "The Storm." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Beautifully crafted, evocative and poignant short stories
I actually haven't reached the Awakening yet. I find it amazing that nobody has commented on the beauty of Ms. Chopin's short pastoral stories. They remind me of the Guy de Maupassantshort stories, Boule de Suif etc.

Ms. Chopin was clearly a very skilled writer of the short story and sympathetically conveys a sense of the times and lives of the Louisiana Creoles. This is the most rewarding reading of American letters that I have had for quite some time. I do wonder how I might perceive the stories without an understanding of French since the occasional patois dialogue might be alienating if not comprehended.

I will make a point of passing this book on to a friend.

Overrated "Classic"
I had been urged to read "The Awakening" several times, and had heard the word "classic" used to describe this book, so I thought I'd check it out.And while I understand that this must have been controversial when it first appeared, this same theme has been done much better by later writers.This is a BORING read.Not much happens.There isn't much conflict.I didn't like or sypathize with the main character, who comes off as selfish and cold.I would not recommend this, except in a study of feminist literature.The other stories are pretty much the same as the title story -- slow and plodding.I'm a fan of literature and theme, but this is light on both.Avoid this book.

Worth reading (The Awakening)
This book is certainly not for the illiterate dime novel crowd. It is a storyof one woman's struggle to find herself within the narrow confines of Victorian society. The situations and characters are well developed and some literacy in French is helpful but not required. If you read a bit about Kate Chopin the main character seems to be fairly autobiographical at least where rebellion fromfemale conformity was concerned. The book is not a new idea, a person finding their wings and learning to fly. But the idea of a female doing this in Victorian society was brand new. The book was considered obscene and subversive at the time and that alone makes it worth reading.

a counterpoint to the last review
I got turned on to KC in college through one story--The Storm--and a little background on her (she wrote ahead of her time, was published and then forgotten until the 1960's Feminist Movement dug her up again). She became one of those authors I lodge in the back of my head to investigate later. I happened uponthis wonderful book at the book tent at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest and grabbed it. The book gives a great introduction to her and her time. I was lucky enough to read The Awakening and some of her other short stories while staying at Grand Isle. She was and is a great writer. She wrote from a viewpoint that bucked the norms of her time---the late 1800's, she wrote of women who didnt fit the mold of mommy and wife. She wrote eloquently of an area, era, and culture that I love...New Orleans, Cajun Country, and Grand Isle amongst others. I dont write many reviews, but after reading the only other review for this book I felt a different opinion should be heard. She is a good read.

Yeah, yeah, A sense of SELF
I read this because It was listed as a "great book". Why, I don't know. Maybe at the time it was risque. Imagine the horror! A wife, not happy with just being a wife! Soon she begins to realize that she is an indvidual who has her own sexual desires, so she trapses around town with men while her husband is away on business. It was a labor to read this, but I always finish. You however- I would not reccomend picking this up. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

"The Joy that Kills...."
I actually bought the larger paperback version from Barnes & Noble but it has the same excellent Introduction and Notes by Rachel Adams.

I don't believe I would've been as enthusiastic about THE AWAKENING if I hadn't read the Introduction and got some background on the story and its writer first.It made reading the story far more interesting to know that it caused a bit of a stir when it came out in 1899 and then completely disappeared until the 1960s and 70s.

What didn't work for me in THE AWAKENING was that the conflict between Edna and her husband/family is completely avoided: he's out of town when she decides to leave him for another place to live, other men to have as lovers, and a whole new life as an artist.The kids always seem to be somewhere else too.Even without the horrible scenes of separation and divorce and all that, Edna ends up making a fatal decision to resolve her own "awakening."

The rest of the stories were good choices.I really enjoyed "A Shameful Affair," "A Pair of Silk Stockings," and "The Storm."Chopin's attempts to capture the way Southerners speak is sometimes difficult to get through and I at first thought the way she refers to Blacks and Mexicans was politically-incorrect--until I realized she wrote these stories at the end of the 1800s.Wow, that WAS politically-correct for that time (check out the outrageous White men losing their minds about Elvis and rock music 50 years later on film and you realize how far we've really come!).
... Read more

Product Description
In 1969, Per Seyersted gave the world the first collected works of Kate Chopin. Seyersted’spresentation of Chopin’s writings and biographical and bibliographical information led to the rediscovery and celebration of this turn-of-the-century author. Newsweek hailed the two-volume opus—"In story after story and in all her novels, Kate Chopin’s oracular feminism and prophetic psychology almost outweigh her estimable literary talents.Her revival is both interesting and timely."Now for the first time, Seyersted’s Complete Works is available in a single-volume paperback. It is the first and only paperback edition of Chopin’s total oeuvre. Containing twenty poems, ninety-six stories, two novels, and thirteen essays—in short, everything Chopin wrote except several additional poems and three unfinished children’s stories—as well as Seyersted’s original revelatory introduction and Edmund Wilson’s foreword, this anthology is both a historical and a literary achievement. It is ideal for anyone who wishes to explore the pleasures of reading this highly acclaimed author.

AUTHOR BIO: Per Seyersted also published in 1969 Kate Chopin: A Critical Biography, which remains in print. He lived from 1921–2005 and was a professor of American literature at the University of Oslo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Responding to reviews on "The Story of an Hour" instead of the whole book
So many people who have reviewed this anthology of Chopin's works have focused on only one story! "The Story of an Hour" is wonderful, but it's only about 2 pages in this large book. With that said, readers who are coming to Chopin for the first time should keep in mind that the protagonist's inner life is more important that anything else going on in that story. That's why there is so little about what happened before the husband supposedly dies and certainly very little after he arrives home safely. (The spoilers for the ending have already been given by earlier reviewers.) Readers can "get" a lot of it, though, just by reading very carefully. It's a "short" short story, and Chopin makes every word count. If you as a reader don't pay close attention to the words Chopin uses, you will miss the point. So, for someone who says, "I don't understand the story," I would say read it again, but more slowly this time.

The book, of course, has much more to offer than the few pages that "Hour" takes up. One of my favorites is "Desiree's Baby," where Chopin emphasizes character over plot in a story about racial prejudice. I won't tell you how it works out, though. You need to read it for yourself! Spoilers ruin the ends of stories that rely on a twist at the end.

Great collection of a Brilliant Writer
Glad that this brilliant writer has had her collection of works put into one book.Long overdue.

My new favorite writer!
I read one of Kate Chopin's stories in an English class, and was struck by her depth of understanding of people, and the beauty of her writing. I read more of her stories in the library, and since every one was good, I decided to purchase an anthology. I did a little research and found out that this book is regarded as the best anthology of her work. It was my 50th birthday gift for myself! I continue to enjoy each story. Many of the stories are short enough to complete in a half hour or less. Infact, one of my favorites so far: "Ripe Figs" is less than one page long.Gorgeous writing...

Amazing Works!
I fell in love with Kate Chopin's works when I was in Elementary school.I have always been one to read ahead of my age.Kate Chopin is an amazing feminist writer and her works portray her views.Women don't necessarily need men to survive.My absolute most favorite story in this works is "The Story of an Hour".I even did a report on it for the short story section of my Literature class.When I have time to kill, I can always rely on Kate Chopin stories to fill that void!

In the bayou
In the late 1800s, Kate Chopin set the literary world on fire with her now-classic novel "The Awakening." But that wasn't by any means the only writing Chopin did. "Complete Novels and Stories" brings together the assorted writings that Chopin did, before le scandale caused her to swear off writing forever.

Her first novel "At Fault" was apparently something of a roman a clef -- a thirtysomething Creole woman is widowed, and takes over the family estate. She falls in love with a businessman, David -- but he is divorced, and her strong Catholic beliefs don't allow her to marry a divorced man.

"Awakening" was the novel that outraged the Victorian morals and sensibilities of the time, and tragically ended Chopin's writing career. Beautiful wife and mother Edna Pontellier has it all: a wealthy husband, cute kids, beautiful house... and yet she is dissatisfied. So Edna begins dabbling in painting and extramarital flirtations, with tragic results.

"Bayou Folk" and a "Night in Acadie" are collections of short stories, centered in New Orleans and the areas of Louisiana nearby. Breakups, romance, death, marital dissatisfaction, freedom, racism and other still-touchy topics are explored in these stories, although bits of humor do intrude from time to time, such as the very short "Old Aunt Peggy," about an ancient black woman who astonishes everyone by never dying. Added on to these are a number of uncollected stories.

It takes a lot to make a book "scandalous" now, but in the late 1800s -- the height of the Victorian era -- it was painfully easy. There's nothing shocking in Chopin's writing by current standards, leaving her writing as a grave look at human nature. In that sense, Chopin's stories are truly timeless, and not just for women.

Continuing themes do run through Chopin's short stories and novels, such as freedom, social boundaries, and the restrictions put on women at the time. One particularly stunning story is "Desiree's Baby," about a young woman and her child who are cast out because the baby is not 100% white... except that her cruel husband has made a mistake.

But it's not nearly as bleak as it sounds -- Chopin's writing is tempered by her dignified, distant 19th-century writing style, and the beauty of her descriptions. ("There was the hum of bees, and the musky odor of pinks filled the air.") Those descriptions can gloss over plot events as grim as suicide.

"Complete Stories and Novels" is an excellent collection of Kate Chopin's work, and leaves one with regret that she didn't get to write even more during her brief lifetime. ... Read more

Product Description
An unhappy woman in an unhappy marriage commits adultery-with devastating consequences. An unflinching look at the strict codes of conduct governing the lives of women during the Victorian age. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Feminist? Really!?!?
I read this book some years back as a high-schooler. While perusing free Kindle selections, it popped back out at me and I decided to start reading it again. When I originally read the book, I didn't have any response to it, either positive or negative... honestly, the themes in the book aren't of interest to most 15-year-olds. Now firmly in adulthood, this novel about a young woman with small children beckoned me to see if I would or could somehow "connect" with the story now that I am in the same phase of life as Edna Pontellier, the protagonist of the story.

The character of Edna is introduced to us as a handsome-looking 28-year-old wife and mother of two young sons. Her husband is doting and generous. Edna starts the book as a decent wife and is described as not being a natural motherly type. As the book progresses, Edna "awakens" and starts to experience all kinds of feelings and emotions and decides that she's just going to be her and that nobody has a claim on her... not her husband or her children. She also becomes inconsiderate of her old friends. She takes up art and tells her husband that she will give it up as soon as she tires of it. She starts an adulterous relationship with a young "Romeo-type" of man in town. She is happy to send her sons off to live with grandma and moves out to a four-room rented home.

This book is widely recognized as being some sort of feminist manifesto. I for one wholeheartedly disagree. It is a narcissist's manifesto! The protagonist of this story is absolutely selfish, does whatever she wants whenever she wants to, and completely disregards the feelings of anybody and everybody. There is no true caring or warmth in this woman save her sexual passions. Edna is a narcissistic, mentally ill woman, which should be clear to anyone who makes it to the end of the book.

Two of the main men in the story are shown to be much better human beings than Edna on numerous occasions, displaying warmth to others as well as consideration for others' feelings. How could you not be touched by the husband, who, when his wife flatly (and in a rude manner) refuses to come in for the night, preferring to stay in a hammock on the porch, comes and keeps her company all night long?

All of the beauty that comes from being human comes from our love for others and ability to look beyond ourselves. My feeling is that the character of Edna is lacking human qualities. Reading the book, I found myself to be embarrassed by Edna and the representation of women that she gives: driven by animalistic sexual impulses, inconsiderate, and not thinking past the end of her nose... just wandering through life by her whims. These characteristics do not constitue a strong woman and, in fact, you could make the case that Edna is a charicature of negative female stereotypes. I find the book to be more "unfeminist" than "feminist."

The Awakening
I love Kate Chopin and the stories were great...the condition of the book was not bad either...

Supremely important rediscovery
The author, Kate Chopin, began to write when she was age thirty six.She had a ten year productive career the introduction by Nina Baym discloses.She died at age fifty three.Her work went out of print to be revived in the early 1960's.She wrote two novels and close to one hundred stories following the death of her husband and her mother.

Women, including Kate Chopin, writing after the Civil War turned to regionalism.By 1893 railroads had wrought a tremendous change.Regional writing, as the introduction points out, is tourism of the imagination.The stories are short and skilfully done.Even the use of dialect for the Cajun and Creole speakers is not off-putting.The stories have a wonderful stripped down to the essence quality.One is reminded of Chekhov.

In THE AWAKENING it is noted that the summer colony staying at the Lebrun cottages are almost entirely Creole.An exception is Edna Pontellier.She came from old Presbyterian Kentucky stock.Even as a child Edna tended to live in her own world.She feels a sense a of exaltation when she learns to swim.She has children, a husband, and becomes infatuated with a young friend, Robert Lebrun.Later Robert leaves to go to Mexico.Returning to New Orleans, Edna spends time with the people she has met at Grand Isles.Her husband is caught up in his household furnishings.When she decides to leave to live by herself in a smaller house, he prudently closes their large marital house to avoid gossip.Her absolute disregard for her duties as a wife shocks her husband.Her doctor can find no trace of the morbid condition ascribed to her.Robert Lebrun returns.He shows reserve.Leonce her husband and her children are part of Edna's life.She yields to the water of the gulf.

Kate Chopin was a writer of major achievement.One regrets, as outlined in the introduction, that there were no literary works produced by her in the last five years of her life.She was discouraged by the critical and moralistic response to her masterpiece, THE AWAKENING.

Thought-provoking
In "The Awakening", a woman rejects the drudgery of her life and decides to live selfishly, for once. Kate Chopin captivates her readers with a story of transformation and growth, and writes with clarity and ease. Perhaps most enjoyable about "The Awakening" and Kate Chopin's short stories is the vivid New Orleans setting. Chopin pays attention to the charms of Louisiana in this novel--Creole cooking and language, Southern black and French mannerisms of the time--not limiting herself by focusing on members of the elite. Definitely worth checking out!

The quintessential edition of an essential work.
Like far too many, I was first introduced to Chopin in college.As an educator, I find Chopin's work to be timeless.Chopin speaks to contemporay society--and especially American society--in ways that few authors can and do.I use "The Awakening," as one of the cornerstones (yes; one may have more than one cornerstone) of my literature class--a class that relies on trade publications rather than anthologies and "typical" textbooks for reading material.One of the unexpected rewards I have experienced while teaching this novel is that male students, generally speaking, truly enjoy the work.Given its content and storyline, one might expect the opposite to be true.Nonetheless, the novel speaks to readers of all ages and genders.I believe that virtually ANYONE will identify with the characters Chopin brings to life in "The Awakening."Not only is it the story of a woman in search of her identity--arguably, a rather Maslowian tale of ! "self-actualization"--it is the story of the human condition.

Additionally, given the story of Chopin's life, the book takes on even greater significance (sorry, but you'll have to read the book to understand why I feel this to be so).

This book is a MUST read for all who seek to dispell the myth of "June Cleaver."(Ya, I know I am not suposed to say that but this is one VERY cool book--a book that EVERYONE should read.)

Besides, "The Awakening" itself is short enough and compelling enough that one will finish it in a matter of a few evenings.That the Penguin version also contains Chopin's EXCELLENT short stories, and a good deal of equally excellent biographical and critical writing regarding the author and her works makes grabbing a copy for one's personal library a must-do.

(Buy the book.)=) ... Read more

Product Description
The essays in Kate Chopin in the Twenty-First Century update Chopin scholarship, creating pathways, both broad and narrow, for study in a new century. Given Chopinâs atypical literary career and her frequent writing about unconventional themes for her timeâsuch as divorce, infidelity, and suicideâshe may have approved such approaches as the essays here suggest. This collection of essays offers readers newer ways of thinking about Chopinâs works. They break away from the familiar trends of the feminist considerations of her work, ranging from her short stories, to her lesser-known novel, At Fault, to her best-known work, The Awakening. Part one introduces interdisciplinary themes for reading âculture❠in Chopin, including urban living and theatre as a lens for viewing New Orleansâs social and class stratifications; the importance of musicâa central interest of Chopinâsâin her texts; and the cultural relevance of Vogue magazine, where eighteen of Chopinâs stories were first published. Part two identifies important and overlapping concerns of religion, race, class, and gender within the contexts of selected short works. And part three offers fresh readings of The Awakening, using the lens of race, as well as the lens of class to reconsider protagonist Edna Pontellierâs transformation and her dependency upon the ârights❠of privilege within a specific cultural context. Together, all of the essays in the collection, by both established and newer scholars, help to usher Chopinâs work into the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Kate Chopin was a nationally acclaimed short story artist of the local-color school when, in 1899 she shocked the American reading public with THE AWAKENING, a novel that much resembles MADAME BOVARY. Though the critics praised the artistic excellence of the book, it was generally condemned for its objective treatment of the sensuous, independent heroine. Deeply hurt by the censure, Mrs. Chopin wrote little more and became largely forgotten. For decades, the few critics who did remember her concentrated on the regional aspects of her work. In the LITERERY HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, where Chopin is highly praised as a local colorist, THE AWAKENING is not even mentioned. In the 70s, however, a few critics began giving new attention to the novel, emphasizing its courageous realism. In KATE CHOPIN: A CRITICAL BIOGRAPHY, Mr. Seyersted uses her total oeuvre to present an extensive re-examination of both the life and work of the author, including previously unknown stories, letters, and a diary. Chopin was a much more ambitious and purposeful writer than previously thought. From the beginning, her special theme was female self-assertion. As each new success increased her self-confidence, she grew more and more daring in her descriptions of emancipated women wanting to dictate their own lives. Mr. Seyersted traces the author's growth as an artist and as a penetrating interpreter of the female condition, and shows how her career culminated in THE AWAKENING and the unknown story "The Storm." With these works, which were decades ahead of their time, Kate Chopin takes her place among the important American realist writers of the 1890's. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

chopin review
My daughter needed it for a summer reading assignment, which she's completed.She enjoyed the book and prepared a great report.

Extremely helpful and informative
Seyersted's work is so concise and to the point; I used this book for an English term paper on Kate Chopin and was extremely impressed by Seyersted's writing.I give this book five stars because I adore KateChopin's work (so I love the content), I envy Seyersted's detail, and alsobecause this book helped me immensely in writing my term paper. Mr.Seyersted, wherever you are, thank you so much! ... Read more

Product Description
Series Editors: James Nagel, University of Georgia; Zack Bowen, University of Miami and Robert Lecker, McGill University

The full range of literary traditions comes to life in the Twayne Critical Essays Series. Volume editors have carefully selected critical essays that represent the full spectrum of controversies, trends, and methodologies relating to each author's work. Essays include writings from the author's native country and abroad, with interpretations from the time they were writing, through the present day. Each volume includes:

• An introduction providing the reader with a lucid overview of criticism from its beginnings-illuminating controversies, evaluating approaches and sorting out the schools of thought
• The most influential reviews and the best reprinted scholarly essays
• A section devoted exclusively to reviews and reactions by the subject's contemporaries
• Original essays, new translations, and revisions commissioned especially for the series
• Previously unpublished materials such as interviews, lost letters and manuscript fragments
• A bibliography of the subject's writings and interviews
• A name and subject index

Product Description
Edna Pontellier, married to a successful creole speculator from New Orleans, spends the summer on Grand Isle and falls in love. Her affair with Robert Lebrun awakens in her a new sense of spiritual and sexual self-awareness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Events Which Occur due to Boredom
Ok, I think that every woman would like to consider herself a feminist in some sense of the word. This does not mean that we are all burning our bras or not shaving our pits but I think that we are all in agreement that we should appreciate books that helped spark the Women's Liberation Movement. I appreciated The Awakening but I did not like it. I have read this book twice, once in my English class and again to refresh my memory on the specifics for my English final. Maybe because I am nineteen years old I do not identify with Edna Pontellier. It appears to me that if there were some time capsule which could take Edna to 1960s suburbia she might resemble a housewife whose favorite pastime activity is sipping on wine coolers all day. I have read reviews of this book dating back to the time it was first published and I just want to clear up right now that my opinion of this book is not at all stemming from the controversy and narrow minded middle to upperclass white male views to which the book premiered. I feel that how Edna felt is simply how she felt there should not be some looming idea of the definition of motherhood or what makes up "a good wife" to prompt how you feel about her. However, while I can respect how Edna felt I do not feel that when she chose to defend herself or make an arguement it was stemming from anything with real substance. I hate writing this but I think that Edna took herself to seriously throughout that novel that by the end you might have felt some connection to her but it was only through Chopin's use of imagery.

Outstanding!
The Awakening will enthrall any one who has ever given themselves serious thought.It profoundly examines the context under which people live their lives.It gives complete meaning to "awakening" and invites thereader to more closely scrutinize their own life.Excellent and hauntinglybeautiful. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I Guess I Can Appreciate It
This book was merely okay. I frankly found it a bit typical and unsurprising. I understand that this might have been revolutionary when it was written, but it doesn't hold up to other strong, revolutionary feminist texts. It's a shame Chopin predates Woolf, because she could have learned a thing or two from her.

Feminist? Really?!?!
I read this book some years back as a high-schooler. While perusing free Kindle selections, it popped back out at me and I decided to start reading it again. When I originally read the book, I didn't have any response to it, either positive or negative... honestly, the themes in the book aren't of interest to most 15-year-olds. Now firmly in adulthood, this novel about a young woman with small children beckoned me to see if I would or could somehow "connect" with the story now that I am in the same phase of life as Edna Pontellier, the protagonist of the story.

The character of Edna is introduced to us as a handsome-looking 28-year-old wife and mother of two young sons. Her husband is doting and generous. Edna starts the book as a decent wife and is described as not being a natural motherly type. As the book progresses, Edna "awakens" and starts to experience all kinds of feelings and emotions and decides that she's just going to be her and that nobody has a claim on her... not her husband or her children. She also becomes inconsiderate of her old friends. She takes up art and tells her husband that she will give it up as soon as she tires of it. She starts an adulterous relationship with a young "Romeo-type" of man in town. She is happy to send her sons off to live with grandma and moves out to a four-room rented home.

This book is widely recognized as being some sort of feminist manifesto. I for one wholeheartedly disagree. It is a narcissist's manifesto! The protagonist of this story is absolutely selfish, does whatever she wants whenever she wants to, and completely disregards the feelings of anybody and everybody. There is no true caring or warmth in this woman save her sexual passions. Edna is a narcissistic, mentally ill woman, which should be clear to anyone who makes it to the end of the book.

Two of the main men in the story are shown to be much better human beings than Edna on numerous occasions, displaying warmth to others as well as consideration for others' feelings. How could you not be touched by the husband, who, when his wife flatly (and in a rude manner) refuses to come in for the night, preferring to stay in a hammock on the porch, comes and keeps her company all night long?

All of the beauty that comes from being human comes from our love for others and ability to look beyond ourselves. My feeling is that the character of Edna is lacking human qualities. Reading the book, I found myself to be embarrassed by Edna and the representation of women that she gives: driven by animalistic sexual impulses, inconsiderate, and not thinking past the end of her nose... just wandering through life by her whims. These characteristics do not constitue a strong woman and, in fact, you could make the case that Edna is a charicature of negative female stereotypes. I find the book to be more "unfeminist" than "feminist." ... Read more

Product Description

This collection was designed for optimal navigation on Kindle and other electronic devices. It is indexed alphabetically, chronologically and by category, making it easier to access individual books, stories and poems. This collection offers lower price, the convenience of a one-time download, and it reduces the clutter in your digital library. All books included in this collection feature a hyperlinked table of contents and footnotes. The collection is complimented by an author biography. Author's biography and stories in the trial version.

Customer Reviews (4)

Critical Review of "Desiree's Baby"
The Relevance of Racism
Lauren Fakier

Racism has and likely always will be a common problem throughout the world. The idea of people of different races interacting peacefully with each other is something that many cannot grasp. In past decades, slavery and segregation played a huge role in the operation of societies. Even today, older generations and those who were raised in prejudiced households frown upon interracial couples. Kate Chopin's "Desiree's Baby" is an excellent example of how racism can destroy a relationship.
"Desiree's Baby" is a short story that explores a crumbling marriage. Desiree, an abandoned child adopted by the Valmondé family, is happily married to the wealthy Armand Aubigny. She fawns over their newborn son, but it becomes clear to her that something is off with her son's coloring. Armand becomes distant, eventually telling Desiree that she is the reason why their son is part African American. He makes Desiree and their son leave, but upon burning all of her possessions, he discovers that it is he who is part African American.
Chopin touches on how certain characters react to the revelation that the baby is part African American. Desiree's own mother, Madame Valmondé, looks at the child and exclaims, "This is not the baby!" Desiree simply thinks she is referring to how fast the boy has grown. Armand, on the other hand, suffers a change in behavior. He ignores Desiree and becomes absent from their household. He falls out of love with her because she has humiliated him. Desiree herself is shocked at the accusation and thinks it is a lie, but she leaves with grace and dignity.
Chopin leaves readers unsure if Desiree simply walked away and started a new life with her mother or if she killed herself. Chopin wrote, "She disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again." The open-ended conclusion allows readers to interpret the story in a way that best makes sense to them. Chopin also uses eloquent words that appeal to the senses. She wrote, "A graceful cradle of willow, with all its dainty furbishings, was laid upon the pyre, which had already been fed with the richness of a priceless layette." She is particularly descriptive when it comes to settings, especially those set in Louisiana.
Chopin herself has ties to Louisiana. Though she grew up in Missouri, she settled in New Orleans and later Cloutierville with her husband Oscar. During her time there, she explored the vast culture, ranging from the music to the food. After moving back to Missouri following Oscar's death, she began writing. Her fictional stories reflect the thoughts and struggles of strong women. Many of her characters are exploring their own identities or searching for some kind of perspective. The characters in "Desiree's Baby" learn how drastically life can change when things are revealed.
Throughout the short story, Chopin delivers to the reader themes of loneliness, despair and heartbreak. She shows how racial differences can end a relationship in a short period of time. Racism is a cruel thing because people ignore the fact that everyone is equal. It causes people to make judgments without getting to know a person. "Desiree's Baby" is well-worth the read. Kate Chopin manages to tell a wonderful story that causes readers to question their own judgments.

My Critical Review of "Desiree's Baby"

Presumption
By: Stephanie Vargas

Kate Chopin's "Desiree's Baby" is a heart breaking short story with an unexpected ending. Chopin's intentions for writing this literature piece are to give the reader an understanding of the effects of racism and making presumptions. Racism has caused much heart ache and pain in the past and still causes problems today. During Desiree's life, people having a mixed baby or being in an interracial relationship were both considered to be taboo. Desiree's husband, Armand, jumps to conclusions when it becomes apparent that their child is part African American. In the end, Choppin gives the reader an unexpected twist when Armand gets what he deserves.

The beginning of the short story tells the reader about Desiree being abandoned by her biological parents. She is then saved by the Valmonde's, who take her in and raise her as their own. Later, Desiree is grown up, married, and is a new mother. She tells her mother how happy she is and how nice Armand has been to the slaves since the birth of his son. Armand's feelings of being a proud father change when the baby is only a few months old. The child's facial features and skin tone make it obvious that the he is part African American.Armand assumes that one of Desiree's biological parents or grandparents were African American. He is upset and no longer wants anything to do with his wife or child. He tells Desiree to leave and she walks out the house with her child, never to be seen again. In the end Armand is burning Desiree's belongings she has left behind; he finds a note that does not belong to Desiree. It is a note from his mother, written to his father, thanking God that Armand will never know that she is African American. After already disowning his wife and child, Armand discovers the truth.

The way Choppin wrote the ending adds a rich substance to the short story. If Armand had not found the letter from his mother, the story would not have the same depth and meaning. Armand is unable to cope with the fact that his child is of mixed races. He believes that having a mixed child has ruined the name of his family. Desiree's biological ancestors are unknown due to the fact that she is adopted; therefore, Armand automatically assumes that she is part of the enslaved race. Desiree was treated unfairly by her husband and her life was ruined. All she wanted was to have a happy life with her husband and child. Before letting racial issues ruin his marriage, Armand should have tried to ignore the color of his son's skin. Parents are supposed to love their children unconditionally and without remorse.Armand does not follow through with his parental duties; he turns his back on both his wife and child.

This short story is ethically influential to its readers. It allows the reader to relate to the situation and to think about a time he or she may have judged or pointed a finger at someone. Armand blamed Desiree and pointed the finger at her, when in fact he was the one at fault. As humans, we should not be so quick to blame others. We should collect the facts and analyze the situation before jumping to hasty conclusions.I would recommend this short story to other readers. "Desiree's Baby" is an fascinating short story with an unpredictable ending; it is definitely worth reading.

Rewarding
Works of Kate Chopin. Including The Awakening, At Fault, The Story of an Hour, Desiree's Baby, A Respectable Woman and more. Published by MobileReference (mobi)

This ebook is a great collection of Kate Chopin's writings. Chopin truly has a way of portraying women in her writings much differently than society in her day believed they should be. If you read her works knowing this, you will come to respect her work the way I have. I believe that in a time when women weren't allowed to speak out on the injustice they faced in society, and the belief that they couldn't be independent sexual creatures, Kate Chopin was making a stand in her writings to express how complex, independent, and sexual they really were. She is an amazing writer and this is an amazing collection.

engaging
Works of Kate Chopin. Including The Awakening, At Fault, The Story of an Hour, Desiree's Baby, A Respectable Woman and more. FREE Author's biography and stories in the trial version.

This is an excellent collection of Kate Chopin's work. It leaves one with regret that she didn't get to write even more during her brief lifetime. Kate Chopin was very ahead of her time. ... Read more

Product Description
Although the book was originally published in 1899, its leading character, Edna Pontellier, could be mistaken for a modern-day liberated woman. In the summer of her twenty-eighth year, as she watched numerous mothers on a beach, she vowed to honor the deep yearnings within her that she sensed were unfulfilled by marriage and motherhood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Didn't grab my attention
I have been going through many of the classics on my commute to work by listening to audio books.I have thoroughly enjoyed most, but this one did not capture my interest.

The story itself was well written and did a good job exploring a character with problems.That is common in literature, but I couldn't connect with most of the characters in the book.I was glad it was short or I may not have finished it.I have a tendency to like books that I learn principles from or at least learn to relate to peoples weaknesses and I came away with having neither happen to me.

The reader did a good job and she differentiated between the characters well.It could tell who was talking just by how she read.That is something that is important to me in an audio book. ... Read more