Collection:LPB

Genre: Documentary

Place Covered: St. Louis, Missouri, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1998-08-23

Duration: 00:26:38

Subjects: Chopin, Kate, 1850-1904. | Authors | Women | Fiction | Literature

Contributors:

• Laudun, Tika Producer
• McDowell, Lucille Producer
• Fortenberry, Rex Q. Photographer
• Reid-Jhirad, Anna Writer
• McGillis, Kelly Narrator
• Williams, JoBeth Narrator
• Toth, Emily Interviewee
• Ewell, Barbara Interviewee
• Fox-Genovese, Elizabeth Interviewee
• Chopin, David Interviewee

A 1998 documentary chronicling the life and career of 19th-century Louisiana author Kate Chopin, best known for her novel “The Awakening.” It covers: her early life in St. Louis, Missouri; her marriage to Oscar Chopin; their life in New Orleans and Natchitoches Parish; her husband’s death and her subsequent move back to St. Louis; her journey to becoming a published author; the impact of her time in Louisiana on her writing; her death; and the rediscovery of her work in the late 20th century. This documentary also includes interviews with Emily Toth of Louisiana State University, Barbara Ewell of Loyola University in New Orleans, and Elizabeth Fox-Genovese of Emory University, who explore the themes of several of Chopin’s short stories and novels, including “Lilacs,” “La Belle Zoraide,” “A No-Account Creole,” “Ma’ame Pelagie,” “A Night in Acadie,” and “The Awakening.” Narrators: Kelly McGillis and JoBeth Williams