The Thumbnail Book Reviews
by John Q McDonald --- 17 February 1998
by Kate Chopin
In this sultry book, Chopin paints the portrait of a Victorian lady exploring her artistic and sexual freedom in a world tightly constrained by convention. Edna's behavior is a dilemma to everyone around her, but not to herself. She proudly seeks independence from her husband, her children, and "society". The story is permeated with the warm nights of New Orleans, and the bright seacoast days of a summer getaway. Yet, the author is somewhat evasive in her descriptions of Edna's indiscretions. She carefully skirts innuendo, leaving much to the imagination, and leading the reader into misleading corners. Perhaps this is only by modern standards. In 1899, this book was looked upon as quite a shock. Today, though, the issues it describes are still around. The film Thelma & Louise may even be seen as a version of this story. It is a classic of feminist literature, but both this reader and his spouse found its ending a disappointment.