The Awakening and Selected Short Stories

The Awakening centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle to reconcile her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood with the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century American South. It is one of the earliest American novels that focuses on women's issues without condescension. It is also widely seen as a landmark work of early feminism, generating a mixed reaction from contemporary readers and critics. Other short stories in this edition are; Beyond the Bayou; Ma'ame Pelagie; Desiree's Baby; A Respectable Woman; The Kiss; A Pair of Silk Stockings; The Locket; and, A Reflection.