At Fault is Kate Chopin’s first novel which was written between July 1889 and April 1890. Upon completion, she submitted it to Bedford’s Monthly; a literary journal that made room for one novel in each issue. Upon rejection, Chopin decided to publish the novel herself, recognizing it as a breakthrough work in which she had discovered her voice as a regional writer.
Chopin was found to be at fault on several literary levels by critics who received one of the 250 copies she distributed to editors and libraries. While modern-day critics can see how much Chopin improved in terms of plotting and dialogue, the primary criticism of the day was toward the subject matter of failing marriages and alcoholism and—oddly—Chopin’s insistence upon realistically dealing with this subject matter rather than romanticizing it. Then, as now, however, At Fault was widely praised for the authentic portrayal of the New Orleans/St. Louis regional dialect and the characters living realistically within.
Of course, the whole point of Chopin impulsively deciding to publish the book herself rather than wade through a potential series of rejections following that from Bedford’s Monthly was exposure. She was approaching middle age and knew immediate exposure was worth far more than any money that might have potentially come from an advance. In this gamble, she was right. Chopin’s decision to take a chance on herself paid off and quite probably the fact that the novel was published by the author lessened the damage of negative reviews that might have come had a major publishing house been behind her.
At Fault was well received by readers, who understood its themes of marriage, independence, and the female experience. Ultimately, Chopin’s gamble paid off and the novel was successful enough to lead to the publication of her second novel, The Awakening, in 1899. This novel was more successful than At Fault, both critically and commercially, and it established Chopin as an important voice in American literature.
The success of At Fault and The Awakening made Chopin an important literary figure and paved the way for more women authors to have their work published. In the years since her work has been admired for its attention to detail and psychological depth. In the early 2000s, Chopin’s work was rediscovered by a new generation of readers and scholars, who praised her for her daring exploration of gender roles and female identity.
In addition to its influence on modern literature, At Fault has been adapted into a play and a film. The play, titled “The Fault of Our Stars”, was performed in 2013 and received positive reviews. The film adaptation of At Fault, released in 2015, was nominated for several awards and was well-received by audiences and critics alike.
Kate Chopin’s gamble to publish At Fault paid off in a big way. Not only did she become an important figure in American literature, but her work has also influenced generations of authors and continues to be a source of inspiration. Her willingness to take a chance on her voice and her refusal to be silenced by rejection have proven to be important lessons for aspiring authors. With her boldness, Chopin has demonstrated that success can come from taking risks and believing in yourself.
