The Awakening
A profound exploration of identity and societal constraints
Kate Chopin author Barbara Kingsolver editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Canongate Books
Published:3rd Mar '16
Should be back in stock very soon
A profound exploration of a woman's struggle against societal constraints, The Awakening highlights themes of desire and self-discovery.
In The Awakening, Kate Chopin explores the complexities of a woman's identity in a repressive society. Edna Pontellier, a young mother and wife, finds herself increasingly dissatisfied with her prescribed role in life. During a languid summer, she forms a deep connection with Robert Lebrun, which awakens her desires and aspirations. As Edna's feelings for Robert intensify, so do her frustrations with the limitations imposed by marriage and motherhood. This emotional turmoil leads her to question the very foundations of her existence, setting her on a path of self-discovery.
As the seasons change, Edna's struggle becomes more pronounced, and the societal expectations that once seemed unbreakable begin to crumble. Chopin's narrative deftly captures Edna's internal conflict and the societal pressures that seek to confine her. The novel's exploration of themes such as desire, autonomy, and the quest for self-identity resonates deeply, making it a cornerstone of feminist literature. The Awakening challenges the norms of its time and continues to provoke thought and discussion among readers today.
First published in 1899, this groundbreaking work has stood the test of time, inviting readers to reflect on the constraints of gender roles and the pursuit of personal freedom. With its lyrical prose and rich character development, The Awakening remains a powerful testament to the struggles faced by women, both in the past and in contemporary society.
The Awakening is not only one of the most important novels in the history of American women's writing, it is an acknowledged American masterpiece . . . Chopin offers a compelling portrait of female experience, one of the first of its kind -- SARAH CHURCHWELL
I still marvel at Chopin's realism, her impatience with conventional trappings, her arresting honesty -- BARBARA KINGSOLVER
Chopin's deceptively slight novel is the kind of book revolutions are made of . . . Reissued with a forward by Barbara Kingsolver, this angry, eye-opening novel is well worth adding to your reading list * * Harper's Bazaar * *
Even more powerful than I remembered -- MARGARET DRABBLE
A Creole Bovary is this little novel of Miss Chopin's -- WILLA CATHER
Chopin's slight, brittle and fierce novel became a classic and a cult, shocking readers with its candid and unsentimental portrait of marital infidelity . . . it remains delicately bitter and acidly angry * * Observer * *
Incisive, brilliant and haunting -- MAGGIE O'FARRELL
This landmark feminist novel, first published in 1899, remains startlingly relevant -- JUDY BLUME, My Life in Books * * Elle * *
Sometimes bold, fearless writing really does have to wait for 'someone in some future time' for readers yet to come. Sleeping Beauties, once awakened, will always serve a contemporary agenda. But Chopin's The Awakening is now justly regarded as an American classic and read with passion and delight * * Literary Review * *
Plucky and masterly * * The Lady * *
A quietly explosive study of female impotence, it is quite superb * * Independent on Sunday * *
ISBN: 9781782117131
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 14mm
Weight: 179g
240 pages
Main - Canons Edition