We just got galleys in at the office of a collection of Kate Chopin, which is being published in October. I’ve never read her—what do y’all think of her work? This collection contains the novels At Fault, Bayou Folk, A Night in Acadie and The Awakening, and several previously uncollected stories.
Is she any good? Which novel should I start with?
I read The Awakening and several of her short stories in a feminist literature class I took in college. She could be quite racy for a mainstream writer of her day.
The Awakening, which I liked, is about a young woman who realizes how stifling her marriage/family life is after taking a holiday with a vibrant Creole family on the Gulf Coast. There, she learns to paint and swim, and she meets a sensitive and kind young man with whom she feels herself, much more so than with her husband. Cue awakening. The rest of the story deals with the changes she makes in her life and how she handles them.
It was made into a so-so movie called Grand Isle, with Kelly McGillis as the main character, Edna.
I read one of her short stories in college. It wasn’t bad. I have “The Awakening,” but have never gotten around to reading it.
I also read Kate Chopin in a women’s literature class, and the first word that comes to mind when I see her name is spooky. I think that if I hadn’t been specifically looking for feminist themes in her work, I would have thought of her more as a female version of E.A. Poe. She depresses me, maybe because she’s portraying women with stifled emotional lives.
You should probably start with The Awakening, which is her best-known novel.
I’ve frequently taught a very short story of hers in my courses; it’s called “The story of an Hour.” I won’t bother to spoil it for you, since you can tear through it in just a few minutes.
Recommended.
I’ve liked everything I’ve read by her, which unfortunately hasn’t been much, and I agree with SpoilerVirgin some of her stories can be quite spooky- ** Desiree’s Baby** in particular comes to mind. However, if I was going to think of a female equivelent to Poe, I’d have to go with Charlotte Perkins Gilman, because stories like ** The Yellow Wallpaper** and The Giant Wistaria are far creepier than any of Chopin’s stories.
I had to read one of Chopin’s short stories in HS, and another one in college. The first one was called “A pair of gloves” or something like that…the other one was “The Storm”. I like them both, and “The Storm” is quite racy for her day, like gallows said.
To second elfkin477, “The Yellow Wallpaper” was creepy…shudders
I loved The Awakening, but I haven’t read any of her other works. I recommend The Awakening, though.
To continue re: Gilman, try her novel Herland if you want to read something written ahead of its time.
I spent yesterday lolling about reading. A handful of the short stories, most of which I found to be too much “short” and not enough “story.” But I did start The Awakening, which I am thoroughly enjoying. Thanks for the input!
The Awakening is a great story, and definitely subversive in its day. I believe the novel was banned for close to 10 years, and only got published after Sister Carrie knocked down a few more taboos. The particular line that got Chopin in trouble was: “He did not say goodnight until she had become supple to his gentle, seductive entreaties.” This line, in relation to the subject matter, was just too much for male critics at the time – if I recall my professor correctly.
I heard she was pretty good on the piano.
What?
Update—I loved The Awakening! Marvelously depressing. Made me absolutely want to take an overdose of sleeping pills—what else could you ask for in a novel?