Chopin, Kate O'Flaherty (1851-1904) American novelist and short-story
writer best known for her portrayal of Creole life in Louisiana. Chopin did
not begin writing until after her husband's death in 1882; much of her work
was condemned during her lifetime, but her popularity resurged in the 1960s.
The Awakening (1899) Chopin's best-known work is the open portrayal of a
married woman's self-discovery and "awakening." Denounced as immoral upon
its release, this novel is now generally regarded as an American classic.
