Reread from high school; I remembered almost nothing but the ending. The writing is beautiful. ( )

I want to report that I finished [The Awakening] by [[Kate Chopin]].

Published in 1899, the novel roused quite a bit of shock, horror, righteous scolding, and that whole brouhaha. The story of a young married woman with children who tires of society's stifling customs, routines, and rules, who discovers her diligent, respectable, responsible, and seemingly loving husband is...well...kind of boring, and who awakens to the sensual pleasures of music, art, and, yes, physical love. It doesn't end well for her.

After its initial publication, The Awakening went out of print and was forgotten. In the 1950s (I think) it was reprinted and emerged as a respected novel.

The author, Kate Chopin, was Irish-American, born as Katherine O'Flaherty. She married a Creole businessman and settled with him in Louisiana (the setting of The Awakening). Mr. Chopin's cotton brokerage failed. Upon his death, his widow and six children were saddled with considerable debt. She turned to writing.

The Awakening is a low-key, exquisitely written, and only 130 pages long. Chopin tackles the issues and ideas that fuel the novels of Edith Wharton, Theodore Dreiser, Henry James, and other turn-of-the-century writers. She does very well.

A milestone for feminism and realism, Chopin's masterpiece is as relevant today as it was over a century ago. ( )

My rating is for the novella, The Awakening, only. After reading it I was too drained to read the other stories included here. Maybe I'll get back to this volume, at which time I'll change this review and rating (if applicable for the latter). ( )

a perfect story ( )