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.

The writing years

By the late 1880s, Kate was writing short stories, articles, and translations which appeared in periodicals, most notably Atlantic Monthly, Criterion, Harper's Young People, The Saint Louis Dispatch, and Vogue. She became known as a regional local-color writer, but her literary qualities were overlooked.

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In 1899, her second novel, The Awakening, was published to much outrage and harsh criticism based upon moral, rather than literary, standards. Her best-known work, it is the story of a dissatisfied wife who explores her sexuality. Out of print for several decades, it is now readily available.

Related Topics:
1899 - The Awakening - Out of print

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Kate, deeply discouraged but not defeated, returned mainly to short story writing. In 1900 she wrote The Gentleman from New Orleans, and that same year was listed in the first edition of Who's Who.

Related Topics:
1900 - Who's Who

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In 1904 Kate collapsed while visiting the St. Louis World's Fair. She died two days later, at the age of 52.

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