The Royals

Great Kates in History

From real-life queens to Hollywood royalty, meet the other women who've created a lasting legacy

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KATE CHOPIN

1850–1904
Legacy: 19th-century American novelist
Considered essential reading for students of American literature, Chopin's most well-known novel, The Awakening, was widely panned for being "unpleasant," "poison" and downright "morbid" when it was published in 1899. Writing about a woman's desires for independence against the social conventions of her time, the Louisiana-based author is now praised for tackling themes that are still relevant to modern-day women.