Before she wrote The Awakening — a powerful novel that has illuminated generations of readers with its strikingly honest and controversial themes of female sexuality and miscegenation--Kate Chopin penned many well-received short stories of Creole and Acadian life. Infused with "e;local color,"e; these tales are filled with fascinating characters, idiosyncratic customs, and sometimes shocking details.Reflecting the influences of the French writers Guy de Maupassant and George Sand, "e;Lilacs"e; is a heartfelt and simple tale of love, life, and devotion. The compelling work is accompanied by 23 other distinctive tales of southern life, among them "e;A No-Account Creole"e; and "e;Love on the Bon-Dieu,"e; from Bayou Folk, and "e;A Matter of Prejudice,"e; "e;The Lilies,"e; and "e;Dead Men's Shoes"e; from A Night in Acadie.
