Kate Chopin

Katherine O'Flaherty (February 8, 1850 – August 20, 1904), known by her married name Kate Chopin, was an American author of short stories and novels.

Childhood

Kate O'Flaherty was born in 1850 or 1851 (most likely 1850) in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. Her mother, Eliza, was a well-connected member of the French Creole community. Her father, Thomas, was a very successful businessman who had immigrated from Ireland.

Related Topics:
1850 - 1851 - Saint Louis - Missouri - USA - Creole - Ireland

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Kate's father died in 1855, when Kate was five. As a founder of the Pacific Railroad, he was aboard the inaugural trip when a bridge across the Gasconade River collapsed. Thomas was among the fatalities. That same year, Kate entered the St. Louis Academy of the Sacred Heart.

Related Topics:
1855 - Pacific Railroad - Gasconade River

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Her father's death leads to the young Kate developing a close relationship with both her mother and great-grandmother. She also became an avid reader of fairy tales, poetry, religious allegories, as well as classic and contemporary novels. Sir Walter Scott and Charles Dickens were among her favorite authors.

Related Topics:
Walter Scott - Charles Dickens

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1863 was a bad year for Kate's family: her great-grandmother died, as did her half brother, George. A Confederate soldier, he died of typhoid fever as a prisoner of war. Kate dropped out of regular schooling and became even further engrossed in her world of books.

Related Topics:
1863 - Confederate - Typhoid fever

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In 1865, she re-enrolled in formal schooling, returning ultimately to the Sacred Heart Academy. She began keeping a commonplace book. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1868, but did not achieve any particular distinction--except as a master storyteller.

Related Topics:
1865 - Commonplace book - 1868

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