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Kate Chopin (1850-1904)Born to Irish and French-Creole parents, Kate Chopin grew up in St Louis, Missouri. She was a controversial figure during her lifetime - her literary explorations of female sexuality and social repression were condemned by critics as unworthy and immoral, particularly in her most famous novel The Awakening (1899) which gives an uncompromising depiction of a dissatisfied wife. This theme is echoed in 'The Story of an Hour', first published in Vogue in 1894, in which a wife's shock and grief after hearing of her husband's death is quickly replaced by a wild delight at the realization of her newfound freedom. Although literary acceptance eluded her in her lifetime she is now regarded as a forerunner of feminist authors of the twentieth century. Her work is romantic but never sentimental, unlike most of her popular female contemporaries. She is quoted as scrawling on a slushy greeting card sent to her by a friend; 'Very pretty, but where's the point?' A question that we hope of course need not be asked of our own products... Authors’ BiographiesClick to read more KATHERINE MANSFIELD |