Kate Chopin (1850–1904) was born in St. Louis and, upon marriage, settled in New Orleans. The mother of six, Chopin did not begin writing until her husband’s death left her in debt. Not many writers were bold enough to address the conflict between women’s strength and the patriarchy. The Awakening (1899), Chopin’s best known work, was so far ahead of its time in its portrayal of a dissatisfied wife, that it was overlooked. Today Chopin is considered the forerunner of twentieth-century feminist authors.
WORKS THAT HAVE APPEARED IN NARRATIVE:
- The Awakening, a short story, in Spring 2017
- The Story of an Hour, a short story, in Stories of the Week: 2008–2009