The Awakening

Kate Chopin · 1899

Overview

Set in late-nineteenth-century New Orleans, the story follows Edna Pontellier as she questions the roles of wife and mother imposed by Creole society. Summer nights on Grand Isle spark a slow recognition of her own desires, leading her to sketch, swim, and refuse to receive callers. The narrative traces her move from a comfortable mansion to a modest cottage, marking each step toward independence. Chopin’s concise prose records both the sensual pull of the Gulf and the rigid codes that police a woman’s every choice.

Who it's for

• Readers exploring early feminist fiction
• Students of American realism
• Book-clubs interested in moral complexity

Key features

• Language: English
• First published 1899
• American Southern setting
• Short novel length