The Awakening and Other Writings

The Awakening ignited controversy when it was published in 1899. Reviewers criticized the book for its tacit endorsement of adultery, its frank depiction of a woman's sexual frustration, and its rejection of conventional expectations for women's roles and behavior. The novel tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a young Creole wife and mother whose adulterous relationship with another man leads to the "awakening" of her spirit. In the world in which she lives, her desire to be independent is considered a sign of mental illness or worse, and Edna struggles to reconcile her desires with her domestic role. Chopin's best-known and most critically acclaimed work is presented here with a selection of her other fiction, as well as her poetry, journalism, and letters. An extensive selection of contemporary reviews and historical materials on women's rights, sexuality, etiquette, and Louisiana culture are also included.