The Cambridge Companion to Kate Chopin (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

Although she enjoyed only modest success during her lifetime, Kate Chopin is now recognised as a unique voice in American literature. Her seminal novel, The Awakening, published in 1899, explored new and startling territory, and stunned readers with its frank depiction of the limits of marriage and motherhood. Chopin's aesthetic tastes and cultural influences were drawn from both the European and American traditions, and her manipulation of her 'foreignness' contributed to the composition of a complex voice that was strikingly different to that of her contemporaries. The essays in this Companion treat a wide range of Chopin's stories and novels, drawing her relationship with other writers, genres and literary developments, and pay close attention to the transatlantic dimension of her work. The result is a collection that brings a fresh perspective to Chopin's writing, one that will appeal to researchers and students of American, nineteenth-century, and feminist literature. Contents......Page 6 Notes on contributors......Page 8 Kate Chopin chronology......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 1 What we do and don’t know about Kate Chopin’s life......Page 26 2 At Fault: a reappraisal of Kate Chopin’s other novel......Page 40 3 Kate Chopin and the subject of childhood......Page 57 4 ‘Race’ and ethnicity in Kate Chopin’s fiction......Page 72 5 Kate Chopin on fashion in a Darwinian world......Page 86 6 The Awakening and New Woman fiction......Page 100 7 Reading Kate Chopin through contemporary French feminist theory......Page 118 8 The Awakening as literary innovation: Chopin, Maupassant and the evolution of genre......Page 131 9 Kate Chopin, choice and modernism......Page 145 10 ‘The perfume of the past’: Kate Chopin and post-colonial New Orleans......Page 160 11 The Awakening: the first 100 years......Page 174 Further reading......Page 187 Index......Page 189 What We Do And Don't Know About Kate Chopin's Life / Emily Toth -- At Fault : A Reappraisal Of Kate Chopin's Other Novel / Donna Campbell -- Kate Chopin And The Subject Of Childhood / Pamela Knights -- Race And Ethnicity In Kate Chopin's Fiction / Susan Castillo -- Kate Chopin On Fashion In A Darwinian World / Katherine Joslin -- The Awakening And New Woman Fiction / Ann Heilmann -- Reading Kate Chopin Through Contemporary French Feminist Theory / Michael Worton -- The Awakening As Literary Innovation : Chopin, Maupassant And The Evolution Of Genre / Elizabeth Nolan -- Kate Chopin, Choice And Modernism / Avril Horner -- The Perfume Of The Past : Kate Chopin And Post-colonial New Orleans / Helen Taylor -- The Awakening : The First 100 Years / Bernard Koloski. Edited By Janet Beer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 174-175) And Index.