ab Series Foreword Most if not all literature is historical, in the sense of reflecting its time and place and the history behind it. Even science fiction and fantasy literature tends to extrapolate from the present, which, like a patient, has a history of its own. Works from previous eras take on an additional historical dimen- sion, as they were written in a time with which we are personally unfamiliar. While great works of literature are timeless, we can enjoy them even more by knowing more about their historical setting and the by now obscure references they sometimes contain. This is where Praeger’s Historian’s Annotated Classics series comes in. The literary classics selected for this series are accompanied by annotations and new essays that highlight their historical context and continuing relevance. Ultimately, this series is about connecting each book to crucial histori- cal issues of its time—both the time of its setting and the time of its writ- ing. Novels, biographies, and other literature of a particular time are indispensable markers of what people of that time said and thought. Thus, this series should be ideal for anyone with a strong interest in history— students, teachers, history buffs. The books in this series can also be valu- able supplementary texts that add spice to college and advanced high school classes. History often becomes more vivid when seen through the lens of an enduring literary work from the same era. The Historian’s Awakening is a superb addition to this series. Kate Chopin’s short novel The Awakening remains timely in its exploration of gender and romantic norms, which have changed considerably since the novel’s 1899 publication but remain complicated. Bernard Koloski, a rec- ognized expert on Chopin’s work, has produced a set of comprehensive annotations and two introductory essays that add valuable historical con- text to the novel. Together with the well-chosen illustrations, they enhance the novel’s richness and make the heroine’s choices and character more understandable. They also provide vivid insights into life in late 19th- century America. The concise annotations are best appreciated after
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