NOSHA's Banned Books Club - The Awakening by Kate Chopin (1899)

A portrait of marriage and mother-hood so controversial it fell out of print shortly after publication and was not rediscovered until the 1960s.

Set in New Orleans at the end of the 19th century, the plot centers on Edna who struggles to reconcile her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood with prevailing social attitudes. The novel arrived at a crucial juncture in history, with the suffrage movement gaining momentum and women demanding a reevaluation of their roles in society. Chopin's protagonist became a vessel through which the author explored the interplay between societal expectations and individual desires. The novel's blend of realistic narrative, incisive social commentary, and psychological complexity makes The Awakening a precursor of American modernist literature, as well as a landmark work of early feminism.

Reasons challenged: sexual and suicidal content.