| Title | : | A Pair of Silk Stockings |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0141398531 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780141398532 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 64 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1897 |
Miss McEnders --
The story of an hour --
Nég Créol --
A pair of silk stockings.
A Pair of Silk Stockings Reviews
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Perhaps some have been feeling caught and bereft of autonomy during these (semi) lockdown times, running into limitations we previously didn’t fathom possible, at least of some we might hope will be of passing nature so in the near future we might find again what we have missed most - a library visit, to meet friends or relatives who belong to our ever spatially expanding lives, so remote from the traditional life under the church tower that maybe still was the one of our grandparents. To put things into perspective it can be enlightening to read about past times, illustrating what is of essential value in our acquis, the importance of personal freedom, even if now under restriction to protect others and ourselves.
Personal freedom and the dearth of it especially for women in the rigid society that characterised the Deep South of the United States, Louisiana, in the late 19th century is one of the mayor, recurrent themes in these Kate Chopin’s (1850-1904) short stories – as in her novel
The Awakening. Apart from the titular story and the poignant The Story of an Hour that I have read a few years ago, this collection comprises Désirée’s Baby, Miss McEnders and Nég Créol.
Some of these short stories are steeped in an astounding bravery, touching on topics that must have been audacious to speak about in Kate Chopin’s times and context, taboos - issues which are still a minefield today: race, class and gender - defying conventions and pointing at injustice.
(Berthe Morisot, Young Girl Putting on Her Stockings (1880)
Because I recently have been reading a story by Guy de Maupassant by coincidence, it struck me as meaningful to find out that Kate Chopin admired the writing of her French contemporary greatly:
"I read his stories and marvelled at them. Here was life, not fiction; for where were the plots, the old fashioned mechanism and stage trapping that in a vague, unthinkable way I had fancied were essential to the art of story making. Here was a man who had escaped from tradition and authority, who had entered into himself and looked out upon life through his own being and with his own eyes; and who, in a direct and simple way, told us what he saw.”
What she described having touched her in de Maupassant’s writing echoes through her own realist storytelling as well, having an observant eye for the dynamics of the time and place influencing the individual lives of people, living in times in which racism and patriarchal oppression was the order of the day.
Well-paced and punchy, three of the five stories stab like a knife, the endings leaving the reader against the ropes, rendering the reader into a shocked partaker when people are shattered on the rocks of brutish, bitter reality, watching how they crash into a concrete wall they hadn’t been aware of existing before – the veil of hypocrisy and self-delusion lifted, moral smugness retaliated and backfiring in the delicate pink coloured face of self-righteousness.
Particularly powerful and intense are the stories in which women taste the joys of independence and of personal freedom – in The story of an Hour almost, in A pair of Silk Stockings a delicious slice of it – the touch of silk unlashing a fairy-talish magic dotting a woman’s life for one day with a gracious frivolity of unexpected self-indulgence, ending this collection on a sparkling note of exquisite and sweet carpe diem. -
What happens if a white supremacist finds himself in the situation to discover he is not white?
What happens if a woman, who suffers from the fact that matrimony is an eternal state of reciprocal ownership, finds herself free for an hour, until freedom is revoked again by the clarification of a misunderstanding?
What happens if a self-righteous Christian woman discovers she is a product of the sin she loves to point out to others?
What happens to 15 dollars if there is the temptation of perfect silk stockings at a sale?
This is my first attempt at reading Kate Chopin, and she blew my mind.
I can't believe she wrote these sharp, honest, brutal short stories in the final days of the 19th century, in the American South. I can't believe we had this kind of brilliant emancipation then and there and yet we are still struggling with the same kind of racist, misogynist, patriarchal structures. Why haven't we learned anything from Kate Chopin and her likes? Why don't we read Désirée's Baby and The Story Of An Hour in all schools everywhere to show the evil of white supremacy and patriarchal family structures?
Why don't we learn even from the lighthearted shopping spree of a poor housewife, who has her one day of pleasure in the theatre, restaurant and department store before facing the drudgery of sacrifice again?
This book was a spontaneous buy at a small bookstore that I entered on a whim, but it changed my day while I read it in a restaurant, with a glass of wine, all alone, like Mrs Sommers.
The only thing that is still missing to make this a perfect day is a good pair of silk stockings... -
I enjoyed this short story by one of the earliest feminist authors, Kate Chopin. This was originally published in Vogue magazine in 1897.
A cute story about a tired and overworked woman who finds herself with an extra $15 and decides to treat herself to an ultimate, "ME" day. Just goes to show past or present women do enjoy a nice shopping spree every now and then!
You can read the story for free at the following link.
https://www.katechopin.org/pdfs/Kate%... -
Kate Chopin wrote “A Pair of Silk Stockings” in April, 1896.
Mrs Sommers finds herself in the unexpected and fortunate position of having an extra 15 dollars to spend. Her first thought is for her children, but when she arrives at the store, her priorities appear to change!
Enjoyable little story. Thanks to Tina for the link.
https://www.katechopin.org/pdfs/Kate%... -
Within the Southern US canon, Kate Chopin is a minor classic (not as popular as
Mark Twain, let’s say). But this small volume pays homage to her remarkable talent as a storyteller through five very brief stories: “Désirée’s Baby”, “Miss McEnders”, “The Story of an Hour”, “Nég Créol”, and “A Pair of Silk Stockings”. All of them are centred on the Cajun and Creole communities and reflect the diverse social, ethnic, and linguistic milieu in Louisiana around the time of the Civil War.
Chopin’s writing is incredibly effective in creating compelling characters and engaging little narratives and, in this sense, is evocative of
Flaubert’s and
Maupassant’s stylistic mastery. But one of the most striking aspects of these stories is probably the ironic and satirical (sometimes ambiguous) overtones with which she denounces the coercive and racist white patriarchy of her time and the pressure put on virtually everyone, from urban upper-class women to Black communities living in the bayous. In that sense, Chopin was certainly well ahead of her time. -
We’ve all had a day they we didn’t want to end: we’ve all had a day that was so good we wanted it to exist forever. I think if anything, that is the feeling this remarkable short story captures. Mrs Sommers has fifteen dollars, which to her is great deal of money. She treats herself to a lovely pair of silk stockings and, then later, some gloves. She goes to the theatre, and when the play ends she feels like she has woken up form a dream. Evening approaches so she gets a cable car home, except she doesn’t want the journey, and the day, to be over.
For me, a good short story is something that when its last few sentences are read, it makes you go back and read the whole short story again. I think with this one, the last few lines give us the realisation that Mrs Summers doesn’t want to go home. But, why is this? I think it is because she has a controlling husband. I get the feeling that the day she just has was a rarity, and would never have been possible in the presence of her other half. If this was the case then, it is no wonder she doesn’t want to go home, and wants to live that day for eternity.
This was only one of the five short stories in his edition and I must say together they comprise a very impressive collection. I have not heard of this author prior to reading this, and I’m glad I bought this collection if it was only to discover her and this short story. Indeed, this will certainly not be the last thing I read by this author.
Penguin Little Black Classic- 66
The Little Black Classic Collection by penguin looks like it contains lots of hidden gems. I couldn’t help it; they looked so good that I went and bought them all. I shall post a short review after reading each one. No doubt it will take me several months to get through all of them! Hopefully I will find some classic authors, from across the ages, that I may not have come across had I not bought this collection. -
For me this is a very simple and plain story. But I have read some reviews which says completely the opposite. :(
OVERVIEW
One day Mrs Sommers finds fifteen dollers. Her first thought is to spend them on her children. But when she goes to the store, she ends up spending them on herself by buying a pair of stockings, boots, going to restaurant and watching a movie. In the end, she doesn't want to go back home; to her responsibilities.
Overall, I don't know I liked it or not. But I would recommend it to everyone. Especially women. -
Many a long and weary year ago I read
The Awakening, I remember little about it apart from the sense of languid people in a sultry climate and it's inevitable cheerful ending , I suspect I read it not as a stand alone but in a collection with some of her other stories which the passage of time has eroded from my mind. Her name remain intact in my blockhead and so I was glad to spot and seize this little volume in a little library.
This is a little book, fiftyish pages with five stories of equalish length, so they average out as short.
Five stories: Desiree's Baby, Miss McEnders, The Story of an Hour, Neg Creol, and A Pair of Silk Stockings.
Now I will digress and hopefully circle back to this book. Somebody gave my sister
Becoming by Michelle Obama and because I am a high sociable and out going type of person . I have ideally leafed through a good deal of the book and read it with a certain degree of slack jawed, wide-eyed amazement because it strikes me as such a regressive book. Here is a woman who we are only reading about because of her husband and who is presenting herself as the good wife and helpmate who walks a step behind him, she does not wish to appear to be a driving and dynamic force in his political life. Anyway, this is a digression, I'm sure she is a lovely lady and naturally a book by a politician or a politician's wife has to conform to the expectations and ideals of the readership, a fiction writer can be harder and sharper, they can kick over our expectations and force us to think and see differently, even if only for ten pages. Perhaps enough of those ten pages can transform a person, or open them up to the possibilities of being a different person. In short I end my digression. Kate Chopin is not regressive, time has not blunted her, she is still sharp, facing up to mind forg'd manacles. These are great little stories with perfect endings, full of sad self defeating pretensions. Five Stars. -
I really enjoyed these stories. I need to read more by Kate Chopin!
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The purchase of A PAIR OF SILK STOCKINGS begins a "rare" and fun little shopping spree that a mother wishes would go on forever.
Not my favorite Kate Chopin, but ok.
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Um par de meias de seda
Uma mãe de família que planeia gastar um dinheiro extra a comprar roupas para os filhos.
5*
O sonho de uma hora
Uma senhora recebe a notícia de que o marido faleceu num acidente de comboio.
5*
O bebé de Desirée
Uma jovem adoptada em criança, um dia descobre no seu filho algo que a aterroriza.
5*
Estes são os três contos, dos nove desta colectânea, de que mais gostei. São histórias comoventes - e reveladoras da opressão feminina pela sociedade da época - tratadas com ousadia por Kate Chopin; uma escritora norte-americana (1850-1904), cuja obra coloca em causa a submissão a que as mulheres estavam sujeitas. -
Kate Chopin aponta o dedo com muita classe a temas muito delicados para serem abordados no séc XIX; por uma mulher, e sobre as mulheres principalmente.
A maioria dos contos começam e desenrolam-se com extrema delicadeza e alguma subtileza, para terminarem com uma machadada fatal nas convenções sociais. Adorei, e alguns deles emocionaram-me sobremaneira. -
Deceptively simple. A perfect little story about the choices most women have made through the centuries. Family First. Often to the detriment of self.
The heroine has one luxurious day to herself, not taking anything away from loved ones, but merely spending a bit of unaccounted money on herself, a bit of time to her own needs. There's a longing here with which we can all identify. It is a powerful story even in our times. I cannot imagine how it must have resonated in hers. -
Short but sweet story by Kate Chopin, though I still think "The Story of an Hour" is her best short fiction.
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”Na sua opinião, o amor era sinónimo de degradação, algo que quase tinha vergonha de confessar a si próprio; e sabia que não tinha forças para o reprimir.”
Kate Chopin (1851-1904) foi uma autora norte-americana que viveu toda a vida no Louisiana. Peguei nas suas Meias de Seda convencida de que se tratava de uma novela sobre o dilema de uma mãe entre gastar, ou não, o dinheiro extra que recebeu consigo ou com os filhos. No entanto, esta edição contém sim uma compilação de contos da autora. Em todos é transversal a delicadeza com que aborda a vontade das mulheres, a sua submissão – ou insubmissão – face aos homens da sua época, e também um cuidado em retratar a vida de famílias crioulas e de origens francófonas (portanto marginais) do Louisiana.
Todos os nove contos aqui compilados (Meias de Seda, Azélie, Uma Mulher de Respeito, O Sonho de uma Hora, Um Cavalheiro de Bayon Têche, Uma Noite em Arcadie, o Bebé de Desirée, O Divórcio de Madame Célestin e No Baile Canadiano) evidenciam o espírito crítico da autora, bem como a sua luta pelos direitos (e a voz) das mulheres. Emocionou-me também o modo como mistura brancos e negros, jogando com a dignidade e os sentimentos e expectativas destas personagens de grande carácter.
O bebé de Desirée foi o meu conto favorito, de tal modo que a autora, que já havia conquistado a minha atenção até então, arrebatou de vez a minha admiração.
De salientar também o modo como se aventura por questões de honra e sexualidade, com certeza escandalosas para a época, mas que evidenciam bem a sua pertinência no mundo das letras na viragem do século. -
“But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.”
― Kate Chopin, "The Story of an Hour"
Vol N° 66 of my Penguin
Little Black Classics Box Set. This volume contains five short stories written by Kate Chopin, that appear in Penguin's
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories. This selection contains:
1. Déserée's Baby ★★★★★
2. Miss McEnders ★★★★
3. The Story of an Hour ★★★★
4. Nég Créole ★★★★
5. A Pair of Silk Stockings ★★★★
I really enjoyed these tight little stories. It was nice to be reminded that Kate Chopin was born in St. Louis, MO and lived in Louisiana. Sometimes, the long shadow she throws on early 20th-Century American letters seems to almost remove her from the source material of much of her writing. These stories are VERY grounded in St Louis and the Creole South. -
A smile provoking short story from Kate Chopin. It's universal and timeless. Mrs. Sommers, frugal and conscientious Mrs. Sommers, suddenly finds herself with a few extra dollars, and she must decide how to spend it. Of course she knows that she should spend it on her children and she thinks through the items that they need. But out shopping, she inadvertently lays her hand on a pair of silk stockings, and they are on sale so she buys them. Well, one thing leads to another and Mrs. Sommers has spent the day and her extra money treatiing herself to a few small pleasures. We've all been there, we've done the same thing, and watching Mrs. Sommers do it is what brings a smile to your face.
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"A Pair of Silk Stockings" short story was read.
Mrs Sommers has been hardworking and frugal. She has a small amount of unexpected money that she's planning to use for new clothes for her children. But she gets tempted by a pair of silk stockings at the store and makes an impulsive purchase. Things snowball and she finds she has spent the money on a pleasurable afternoon shopping and going to the theater. She gave herself a needed lift in spirit before going back to a life where she was always putting her family first. It seemed like Chopin realized that everyone occasionally needs a psychological lift, and we have all impulsively done something special for ourselves. 3.5 stars. -
This book was read for the #readwomen month.
Stories about women, and what they often give up for their family, and a socially acceptable life at the time as well as the role of race at the time.
-Désirée's Baby: Now my rating of five stars is mostly because of this story, which is my favourite of all her short stories after I read it at school right before we were made to read her novel
The Awakening. This tiny story deals with miscegenation in Louisiana during the antebellum period, and how this leads to a small journey of race, heritage, and identity. Plus that plot twist!
-Miss McEnders: Do not be ethnocentric, it should not be that hard.
-The Story of an Hour: A woman hears of the death of her husband and dreams of freedom, and the title tells you all you need to know about the end.
-Neg Créol: The struggle between cultures, the story of a black fishmonger and his former master's family.
-A Pair of Silk Stockings: This is a story of escapism of a woman who wants to feel free for as long as she can (a day) after spending her entire life looking after her husband and children. -
I enjoyed each of these stories. I chose this collection because I had read somewhere that Kate Chopin was a master at the short story. She certainly was. Each story has a climax finale that is more than a zing and not always a sting. The first story, Desiree's Baby, had that curl in the tail end that I did not expect and yet spoke volumes about the characters up to that point.
The naming piece, A Pair of Silk Stockings, by contrast, did not have a zing or a sting in the end but a summation that encapsulated the young woman's state of mind and emotions so expertly.
I have encouraged my wife to read these as I know she will appreciate each story. I will wait a year to pass before returning to reread them, but I certainly shall reread them. -
3.5/5🌟
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Little Mrs. Sommers had no time—no second of time to devote to the past. The needs of the present absorbed her every faculty.
Having recently discovered a couple of marvellous short stories from Kate Chopin, I am now inspired to scour the recesses of the Interwebs in search of more.
These silk stockings are what I have discovered first.
And this is what I have learned: Never go shopping on an empty stomach!
Of course, that is the flippant approach. In the undercurrents of this story Chopin has more to say about the disappointments of marriage, the demands of child-rearing, and the onerous —perhaps unbearable— self-denial imposed on women.
Three stars because it was not as strong as the first two I read:
The Storm and
The Story of an Hour. -
4.5*
O que me ri com as personagens criadas pela Kate Chopin!!
Um par de meias de seda - 4*
Azélie - 4.5*
Uma mulher de respeito - 4.5*
O sonho de uma hora - 5*
Um cavalheiro de Bayon Têche - 4.5*
Uma noite em Arcadie - 4*
O bebé de Desirée - 4.5*
O divórcio de Madame Célestin - 4*
No baile canadiano - 4.5* -
I had not heard of Kate Chopin before I started reading this. A Pair of Silk Stockings contains five short stories and overall it was a really nice read. That's what I have been reading these little books for, finding new-to-me authors.
In the title story, a woman has 15 dollars to spend on nice things for herself - a rarity - and as she has a wonderful day choosing the beautiful stockings and gloves and visiting the theater, at a certain point realization hits that it can't last and that when the curtains draw she will have to return to her normal life. I think that is a very relatable kind of thing.
~Little Black Classics #66~
Find this and other reviews on
https://www.urlphantomhive.com -
Estou rendida a esta autora. Excelente, excelente, excelente.
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Hesitei entre 4 e 5 estrelas. Os contos são excelentes, sem palavreado a mais, e muito acutilantes e subtis. Está sempre presente o prisma da mulher, o seu aprisionamento, o recalcamento e a inibição da vontade. Uma luta constante entre emancipação e opressão social. A pair of silk stockings (um par de meias de seda) põe-nos logo ao nível da densidade e psiquismo narrativos. Uma mulher de respeito fez-me lembrar um conto de Steinbeck, versando a sexualidade reprimida feminina (Os crisântemos de "O Longo Vale"). The story of an hour (o sonho de uma hora) é uma espécie de grito reprimido das mulheres, um extraordinário retrato da condição feminina. E No baile canadiano, mais uma vez assistimos ao papel opressivo de uma sociedade conservadora que torna homens e mulheres seus juguetes - embora, neste conto, a ironia confira às mulheres a consolação de certas escolhas. Finalmente, O divórcio de Madame Célestin poupa-nos a grandes comentários: aquela falsa determinação diz tudo sobre o que uma mulher tem de suportar. O efeito de ironia é desconcertante. Muitíssimo bom.
A tradução mereceria uma revisão, pela quantidade de gralhas. Mas a tradutora fez um bom trabalho. -
"... a poignant wish, a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere but go on with her forever."
Perfect little read for the train ride to and from work. My favourite story was the first Desiree's Baby, after reading it I had to check what year it was written in. It must of been absolutely sensational at the time. I must remember to read more of this author. -
This is a collection of short stories, and I think I liked the title story best. The simple, and yet rich, descriptions of an elderly lady being seduced by her own fantasies and imaginary life, reminded me of "Miss Brill" by Katherine Manson. As it is one of my favorite short stories, I can't think of any higher praise.
The rest of the stories were less remarkable. However, I did enjoy "Désirée’s Baby" which is a powerful tale of heritage, identity, prejudice – and racism. -
A couple of these stories were okay. Not having had a good understanding of the settings and the characters' circumstances, it was hard for me to get an appreciation of the stories.
Having said that, I'm just going to note my observations, and they will contain spoilers, so read at your own discretion.
Désirée's Baby
How awful. The ending was a bit of a punch in the guts, but the main body of the story already had some hints as to the true nature of Désirée's husband, Armand. It was just painful to see him direct it towards his wife and their innocent son.
Miss McEnders
With regards to this story and the previous one: never has the saying "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" been more true! The titular character was so judgemental, and self-righteous in her Christian indignation, but the fall from grace was apt for someone so undeserving of understanding.
The Story of an Hour
Now this, was an interesting little story. I had to read a couple of times before I understood how Mrs Mallard thought. Her life must either be thankless or challenging before she could even recognise that the emotion she felt was one of freedom.
I think that at least the first three stories were relatively easy to understand. Because, then there was:
Nég Créole
This story was difficult for me to understand, let alone like. I think that it'll take me another few readings before I'll begin to get an inkling of what it's about. From what I can gather, Nég (or Chicot) had been telling people for years that one was once owned by Jean Boisduré, and he still served of of that family. Yet there was now a sense of freedom by the end of the story? I'm not sure.
A Pair of Silk Stockings
And then finally, the story that I bought the book specially to read. Even now, mothers abound such as Mrs Summers, wanting to buy things for their children, and rarely indulging in anything for herself. I found myself growing morose by the understanding that she had indulged and bought things only for herself with her newfound money, only to have to return to her life of a mother by the story's end. -
A beautiful little collection of short stories. The subject matter is varied, but all focus on women in different stations of society and times of life. Chopin has a real mastery of the short-story format, and each tale feels fully formed and vivid - though some are only 3 or 4 tiny pages long.
The whole 'book' is 56 pages long, the perfect size to read while I was waiting at the hairdresser. These little black Penguins are going to be a permanent fixture in my handbag.
