The Awakening and Selected Stories

Set in late 19th-century New Orleans, the novel follows Edna Pontellier as she challenges societal norms during a transformative summer. Chopin boldly explores female desire and the constraints placed on middle-class women, making the book a seminal work in American literature. This modernized edition by Rafael Walker emphasizes the author's critique of class exploitation and includes overlooked stories that further highlight her feminist themes, offering contemporary readers deeper insights into Chopin's groundbreaking perspectives.