Play Audiobook Sample
Desiree's Baby Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(4.18) - 44 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Desiree's Baby BY Kate Chopin is about the daughter of Monsieur and Madame Valmondé, who are wealthy French Creoles in antebellum Louisiana. Abandoned as a baby, Desiree was found by Monsieur Valmondé lying in the shadow of a stone pillar near the Valmondé gateway. She is courted by the son of another wealthy, well-known and respected French Creole family, Armand. They marry and have a child. People who see the baby have the sense it is different. Eventually they realize that the baby's skin is the same color as a quadroon (one-quarter African)—the baby has African ancestry. At the time of the story, this would have been considered a problem for a person believed to be white.
Download and start listening now!
"This story was absolutely heart-wrenching...especially the ending! We read it out loud in class and all of our jaws literally dropped at the end and a collective gasp went around the room. I need to get my hands on this and read it again; I really enjoyed it. "
— Kim (4 out of 5 stars)
Desiree's Baby Listener Reviews
-
" I love the twist of this short story--and such a true portrayal of what life must have been like for women. Nice job, Kate Chopin--and a voice extremely ahead of her time:) "
— Jeanine, 1/3/2014 -
" I love Chopin storys. Although she only write short story, the story line, symbolism, and other use of literary devises, are used much more cleverly than most novels. I loved this story and personally think it is one of her best. "
— Briana, 1/1/2014 -
" I can read this story a million times and still feel the injustice. It's one of my faves "
— Faith, 12/29/2013 -
" This is a great short story that can be found in most Kate Chopin collections - usually along with the Awakening. "
— Julia, 12/27/2013 -
" Awesome. The last paragraph is bomb! "
— Lunalovegood, 12/25/2013 -
" Chopin is so obliviously racist. For the sake of feminism, I wish she'd never been rediscovered by rich white women in the 60's. "
— lux, 11/26/2013 -
" A powerful short story about racism and sexism. This story can often be found online, or in collections of Kate Chopin stories such as The Awakening and Selected Stories "
— Sheila, 11/13/2013 -
" Read this short story in english litterature earlier in the year. It was very good, and the twist unpredictable. "
— Bloody, 3/12/2013 -
" Phenomenal story - this says audiocassette, but I read the short story... great ironic ending. "
— Tiffany, 1/11/2013 -
" I actually wrote a college paper on this story comparing the evolution of the plot to slavery and gender roles among African Americans and Women of the time period versus today's standards. The piece was very well written and thought provoking. "
— Rebecca, 5/28/2012 -
" It's been more than 5 years since I read this story, only once, in english class, and I still remember the final part, word by word. I'm so happy I found the copy back so I can read it again! "
— Emma, 2/29/2012 -
" At first, I was very bored with the story and looking forward to the end, but once I got to it, the ending hit me like a train and it literally left me with my mouth agape. "
— Amordahl, 1/25/2012 -
" Loved this short story with its shocking twist at the end. I enjoy Kate Chopin's portrayal of the South. "
— Jessica, 4/13/2011 -
" A short story that I read in installments from Daily Lit and a good short story along similar themes to such books as Gone with the Wind and The Help. "
— Em, 2/7/2011 -
" The short story format has always been my favorite...this one did not disappoint. "
— Jen, 10/14/2010 -
" The story is definitely by Chopin. A female that struggles with identity and ends up dead. The ending is really no surprise. "
— Michael, 9/22/2010 -
" I quite enjoyed it! "
— Charlene, 8/26/2010 -
" This story was absolutely heart-wrenching...especially the ending! We read it out loud in class and all of our jaws literally dropped at the end and a collective gasp went around the room. I need to get my hands on this and read it again; I really enjoyed it. "
— Kim, 6/4/2010 -
" Chopin is so obliviously racist. For the sake of feminism, I wish she'd never been rediscovered by rich white women in the 60's. "
— lux, 4/4/2010 -
" This is a great short story that can be found in most Kate Chopin collections - usually along with the Awakening. "
— Julia, 8/22/2008 -
" Phenomenal story - this says audiocassette, but I read the short story... great ironic ending. "
— Tiffany, 7/21/2008
About Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin (1851–1904) was born in St. Louis. After marrying, she moved to Louisiana, where she raised six children. Chopin earned acclaim for her finely crafted short stories about the Creole and Cajun people of Louisiana. But her novel, The Awakening, was condemned for its controversial themes, which foreshadowed later feminist literature.
About Susie Berneis
Susie Berneis is a professional voice-over artist. She has a BA in English and theater from the University of Michigan and more than twenty years of community theater experience. Her audiobook narrations include The Secret of Raven Point by Jennifer Vanderbes, which won an AudioFile Earphones Award in 2014.