The Awakening (The Norton Library) Format: Electronic book text

Part of the Norton Library series

The Norton Library edition of The Awakening features the complete text of the first (1899) edition. An introduction by Laura R. Fisher sheds light on the historical and literary contexts of Chopin’s most influential work, tracing its trajectory from intense initial backlash to its later revival as a feminist classic.

The Norton Library is a growing collection of high-quality texts and translations―influential works of literature and philosophy―introduced and edited by leading scholars. Norton Library editions prepare readers for their first encounter with the works that they’ll re-read over a lifetime.

• Inviting introductions highlight the work’s significance and influence, providing the historical and literary context students need to dive in with confidence.
• Endnotes and an easy-to-read design deliver an uninterrupted reading experience, encouraging students to read the text first and refer to endnotes for more information as needed.
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About the Editor: Laura R. Fisher is an Associate Professor of English at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is the author of Reading for Reform: The Social Work of Literature in the Progressive Era.

Kate Chopin was born on February 8, 1850, to an affluent family in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1870, she moved with her husband to his native New Orleans. Chopin began her literary career at the age of thirty-six, as a recently widowed mother of six. From 1890 to 1897, Chopin published her first novel, At Fault, and nearly one hundred short stories, collected in Bayou Folk and A Night in Acadie. Chopin’s stories were widely read, appearing in leading magazines of the day. Her most famous novel, The Awakening, faced wide condemnation upon its release in 1899 for its morally ambivalent subject matter. It has since become recognized as an essential work of early feminist fiction. Kate Chopin died on August 22, 1904.

Laura R. Fisher is an associate professor of English at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is the author of Reading for Reform: The Social Work of Literature in the Progressive Era.