A Pair of Silk Stockings - Kate Chopin

 Welcome back to It's a Classical Life, and if you're new here, then welcome. I love sharing all things classic - literature, music, movies, style, homemaking and so on. Recently I was introduced to the life and works of American writer, Kate Chopin. 

Source

Born in 1850 in Missouri to French/English parents, Chopin grew up in St. Louis. She was bilingual in both French and English and grew up under the influence of women - her mother, grandmother and her great grandmother. Tragically, her father died in a railroad accident. She married young, only eighteen, and had six children before her husband died when she was thirty-two. There is a wonderful biography, full of details and photos at the Kate Chopin International Society's website, so I won't go into too much detail here.

A few things that struck me about Chopin include:

* She kept a common place book in her youth. Common place books are becoming popular again as a journal for keeping thoughts, quotes, ideas, and other bits of information that one comes across and finds worthy of recording and remembering. I have kept a common place book for many years and love the idea of them. Looking back over them offers inspiration, deep thoughts and great ideas for research and further learning. 

* She was inspired by women and many of her works are centred around the world of women in the South of the United States at the end of the nineteenth century. I love these glimpses into daily life and the thoughts of women at this time.

* She wrote both short stories and children's stories. I love children's stories, especially those from a hundred years ago or longer. I love looking back at the way children lived and thought and to reflect on how little children have changed today - and how much they have!

I chose A Pair of Silk Stockings to share with you, because it was the first of Chopin's works that I read, but there are others that I love too. It is quick and quite touching despite its brevity. You can read this short story online here. If you've read it, or you go to read it from here I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. 

Do you think that Mrs Sommers should have spent the money on a day of luxury and 'self-care' or should it have been put to all the responsible things that she planned initially? It's a tough one, and a question I'm sure many of us are facing at the moment when cash flow is limited and responsible spending is constantly calling. If you haven't read it, think about what you would do if a sizeable amount of money suddenly came your way (whatever amount would be considered 'sizeable' to you). How would you spend it? Would you be "absorbed in speculation and calculation" before spending it? Or do you know exactly where that money would go?

Thanks for stopping by and joining in the conversation!