‘The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude.’

Published in 1899 and often regarded as Kate Chopin’s masterpiece, The Awakening is a raw and unflinching account of one woman’s struggle between the expectations of society and the life she truly desires.

Set in New Orleans at the turn of the nineteenth century, Chopin’s seminal classic centres on Edna Pontellier: wife, mother and woman of society – until a summer on Grand Isle changes everything. After falling for the charismatic Robert Lebrun, an unfamiliar hunger for freedom takes hold of Edna, one she has never allowed herself to feel before. Back home, Edna is forced to reconcile her shifting sense of self with the duties of motherhood and marriage. But as she slowly begins to withdraw from New Orleans society, she finds something unexpected in the isolation: room to finally breathe – something she is unable to surrender going forward. Beautifully written, daring and deeply affecting, The Awakening is a stunning exploration of longing, passion and independence, remaining a landmark work of early feminist fiction.

Kate Chopin (1850 – 1904) was an American novelist and short story writer. She is considered a forerunner of twentieth-century feminist authors from the South of America, celebrated for her exploration of female independence, sexuality and identity in her works. Though her writing sparked controversy during her lifetime, today Chopin is lauded as one of the finest authors of her time.