The Awakening and Selected StoriesThe groundbreaking depiction of a woman who dares to defy the expectations of society in the pursuit of her desire, with an insightful introduction by author Claire Vaye Watkins. A Penguin Vitae Edition When Kate Chopin's classic was first published in 1899, charges of sordidness and immorality seemed to consign it into obscurity and irreparably damage its author's reputation. But a century after her death, The Awakening is widely regarded as Kate Chopin's great achievement and a celebrated work of early feminist literature. Through careful, subtle changes of style, Chopin shows 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. Penguin Classics launches a new hardcover series with five American classics that are relevant and timeless in their power, and part of a dynamic and diverse landscape of classic fiction and nonfiction from almost seventy-five years of classics publishing. Penguin Vitae provides readers with beautifully designed classics that have shaped the course of their lives, and welcomes new readers to discover these literary gifts of personal inspiration, intellectual engagement, and creative originality. |
Contents
The Awakening I | 1 |
A Life Fable | 141 |
Désirées Baby | 154 |
La Belle Zoraïde | 160 |
At Chênière Caminada | 166 |
The Story of an Hour | 178 |
Athénaïse | 194 |
A Pair of Silk Stockings | 229 |
Nég Créol | 235 |
Elizabeth Stocks One Story | 242 |
A Sequel to The Cadian Ball | 249 |
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Common terms and phrases
Adrienne arms Athénaïse Awakening baby began Bobinôt Calixta Cazeau Chicot child Clarisse clatter Claudia Rankine Creole dear Désirée dinner door dream Edna Edna's exclaimed eyes face father feel felt gallery girl gnolle gone good-by Gouvernail Grand Isle hair hand head heard Highcamp hour husband Kate Chopin kissed knew lady laughed Léonce letter lips lived looked M'sieur Madame Lebrun Madame Ratignolle Mademoiselle Reisz Mamzelle Aglaé Mariequita married Miché Monsieur Farival Monsieur Ratignolle Montéclin morning mother never night once Orleans peignoir pirogue play Pontellier Pontellier's quadroon returned rigolet Robert seated seemed si tu savais Sister Agathe sleep soft soul stay stood story street Sylvie talk tell things thought told Tonie took turned Victor voice w'at waiting walked wife Willa Cather window woman women wonder young Zoraïde