Showing results by author "Kate Chopin" in All Categories

Kate Chopin's brilliant short story about an hour in the life of a young wife. When news arrives that Louise's husband has been killed in a railroad accident, her family and friends are careful to break it to her gently, knowing that she has a heart condition. Louise locks herself in her room for an hour, during which she realizes that this bereavement is the start of a new life of freedom and independence. But a much greater shock awaits her when she leaves her room and goes downstairs....

An eclectic selection of short story classics by great writers of latter day such as Jack London, O' Henry, M.R. James, G.K. Chesterton, James Joyce and Anton Chekhov.

A collection of 11 classic short stories by authors including Kate Chopin, Saki, Katherine Mansfield, James Joyce, and Thomas Hardy.

These heartwarming stories, from a forgotten 19th-century master, depict the lives of women in the Louisiana of a hundred years ago. The title story, "Charlie," introduces us to a spirited tomboy on the verge of becoming a young lady. "Tante Cat'rinette" is the story of an old black Creole. "A Matter of Prejudice" shows us the changes in a French grandmother. "Beyond the Bayou" tells of a black Creole woman who saves the life of a young boy. "A Pair of Silk Stockings" relates a young mother's temporary escape from poverty, while "Regret" tells the story of a spinster who must deal with 4 young children. Kate Chopin (1850-1904) is one of America's finest writers of short stories. These unabridged selections demonstrate her fine insight. Jacqueline Kinlow's performance is well-suited to the spirit of the works.

Kate Chopin was born in Louisiana in 1850 and established her life there as a groundbreaking author, as her work subjects included radical-for-the-time ideas such as feminism, race, and social change. Her notable and important works include, but are not limited to, Beyond the Bayou and The Story of an Hour. Her reach was vast for her time, as among her publications, including a story in Vogue, and she was largely regarded as one of the best authors of her time. Feel free to listen!

Kate Chopin was born in Louisiana in 1850, and established her life there as a groundbreaking author, as the subject of her work included radical—for the time—ideas, such as feminism, race, and social change. Her notable and important works include but are not limited to: Beyond the Bayou and The Story of an Hour. Her reach was vast for her time, as among her publications was a story in Vogue. She was largely regarded as one of the best authors of her time.

In this story of a woman’s plan to get a wealthy husband, Nathalie’s plans are almost spoiled by the action of a family friend, but she explains the situation on time. In the end, she marries Mr Brantain and his millions.

Randall and Dorothea seem to be very much in love, but Dorothea hesitates, not wishing to lose her independence. She eventually goes to the countryside, as an affirmation of her freedom and refusal top submit to societal control.

The short story focuses on two lovers torn apart by the American Civil War and the locket that inexorably binds them together.

Mildred Orme visits the Kraummer farm and becomes infatuated by an attractive young farmhand. She finds him at a fishing pond, and while trying to teach her to fish, they end up kissing passionately. She feels guilty and then receives a letter which reveals the identity of the young man.

"Beyond the Bayou" is about La Folle, an African American woman and former slave, who overcomes her crippling and irrational childhood fear of passing an imaginary territorial line or going beyond the bayou.

An intense story of love, lust, and betrayal set amidst an intense storm in the American South, The Storm is the sequel to At the 'Cadian Ball by American novelist Kate Chopin. Beautifully crafted and a considered a groundbreaking work of fiction when it was published, it candidly discusses sexual passion and extramarital affairs.

One of the earliest feminist works in American literature, "The Awakening" tells the story of Edna Pontellier. Unsatisfied with societal expectations and unhappy with her family life, she begins to fall in love with the dapper Robert Lebrun. Lebrun's flirtations, along with the lifestyle of renown musician Mademoiselle Reisz, rejuvenates Edna's sense of freedom and independence. However, an affair with the womanizer Alcee Arobin provides Edna with a taste of the danger that comes from living outside of social convention.

In The Kiss, a beautiful young woman, Nathalie, has decided to marry the unattractive and uninteresting but very wealthy Mr. Brantain. When an old friend kisses her passionately in front of Mr. Brantain, Nathalie must control the damage done by this kiss in order to reassure Mr. Brantain. This done, the relieved Mr. Brantain proposes to her. At their wedding, her old friend appears and suggests another kiss. Has Nathalie arranged matters perfectly? Or not?

In A Pair of Silk Stockings, Mrs. Sommers, a once wealthy woman who has fallen on hard times comes into possession of a small fortune of $15. Planning to spend the money on clothing for her children, she becomes sidetracked at a shop counter, entranced by the smoothness of a pair of silk stockings. She goes on to spend the money on the stockings as well as new boots and gloves for herself.

In A Respectable Woman, Mrs. Baroda, the wife of a wealthy sugar plantation owner plays hostess to Mr. Gouvernail, a friend of her husband's. The reserved Mr. Gouvernail is a puzzle to Mrs. Baroda who is nonetheless intrigued by the man's retiring nature. When the two speak to each other outside one evening, Mrs. Baroda wants to get closer to her guest but realizes this would be at odds with her position as a respectable woman.

In The Locket, a confederate soldier declines his fellow soldiers’ request to reveal the contents of the locket around his neck. The locket, which holds pictures of his fiancée’s parents and the date of their wedding is found on the battlefield after a battle. Later, the soldier’s fiancée visits the battlefield with the soldier’s father, both shaken with grief. The soldier’s father asks his son’s fiancée to remove her veil, as it contrasts too sharply with the beautiful day and adds that on such a day miracles seem ready to happen.

Kate Chopin’s A Reflection is a reflection on the fortunes of life. It is a meditation on how some people succeed by harnessing their energy effectively while others get left behind.

In Désirée’s Baby, the adopted daughter of a wealthy prewar French Creole couple is courted by the son of another wealthy, respected French Creole family. After they marry, their child is born with dark skin and believed to have African ancestry, a problem for a prewar white family. Accused of dishonesty by her husband, the mother, Désirée, and her child walk off into the bayou, never to be seen again. But when the father finds a letter from his mother to his father which reveals an explosive fact about his own ancestry, he learns a sobering truth.

In Beyond the Bayou, La Folle, an ex-slave, lives on an island cut off from the her old home and is afraid to venture back onto the bayou. When a small drought dries up the shallow waters between her home and the bayou, she spends some time with the son of her former master. When the son, whom she calls “Cheri” accidentally shoots himself in the leg, La Folle must overcome her fear of the unknown and go back to the bayou to alert his parents.