The pioneering short novel of feminist fiction is a sympathetic portrayal of a woman's discovery of the stifling bonds of her marriage and the strength of her own sexuality. First published in 1899, it shocked the popular taste of the day, outraged official morality, and destroyed the author's reputation and career. Today, however, this novel and Kate Chopin's other writings have found a highly receptive audience among a generation of women who have learned to value their own individuality and independence.