The Awakening

Written by Kate Chopin

Narrated by Hilary Swank

Narrated by two-time Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank, The Awakening is set in New Orleans and the Southern Louisiana coast at the end of the nineteenth century. The plot centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle to reconcile her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood with the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century American South. It is one of the earliest American novels that focuses on women's issues without condescension. It is also widely seen as a landmark work of early feminism, generating mixed reaction from contemporary readers and critics. The novel's blend of realistic narrative, incisive social commentary, and psychological complexity makes The Awakening a precursor of American modernist literature.

Cover illustrated by: Mar Bertran

Mar Bertran sees art as an intrinsic form of self-expression. She considers herself a sensitive person and believes that illustration has been pivotal in allowing her to let out her inner world full of insecurities. Visualizing her thoughts and emotions with the purpose of connecting with others has become Mar's way of living. Post-impressionism and pop art have been a massive influence on her work. Mar seeks an impact through bold colors and uncovers emotions in the character's eyes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798368986265

Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin, born Katherine O'Flaherty (1850-1904), was an American writer of short stories and novels based in Louisiana. Chopin is best known for her novel The Awakening, and for her short story collections, Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Acadie (1897). Of French and Irish descent, her work depicted the various ethnic groups of Louisiana, especially of Creoles, with sensitivity and wit, and featured vivid descriptions of the natural environment there. After her husband died in 1882 and left her $42,000 in debt, Chopin took up writing to support her family of six children. Though popular, her serious literary qualities were overlooked in her day, and she is now seen as an important early American feminist writer.