THE YELLOW WALLPAPER - and Other Stories: Three Thanksgivings; The Cottagette; Turned; Making a Change; If I Were a Man; Mr Peebles' Heart

by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Best known for the 1892 title story of this collection, a harrowing tale of a woman's descent into madness, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote more than 200 other short stories. Seven of her finest are reprinted here. Written from a feminist perspective, often focusing on the inferior status accorded to women by society, the tales include "turned," an ironic story with a startling twist, in which a husband seduces and impregnates a naïve servant; "Cottagette," concerning the romance of a young artist and a man who's apparently too good to be true; "Mr. Peebles' Heart," a liberating tale of a fiftyish shopkeeper whose sister-in-law, a doctor, persuades him to take a solo trip to Europe, with revivifying results; "The Yellow Wallpaper"; and three other outstanding stories. These charming tales are not only highly readable and full of humor and invention, but also offer ample food for thought about the social, economic, and personal relationship of men and women — and how they might be improved.

Unknown Binding

About the author

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935), also known as Charlotte Perkins Stetson, was a prominent American sociologist, novelist, writer of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction, and a lecturer for social reform. She was a utopian feminist during a time when her accomplishments were exceptional for women, and she served as a role model for future generations of feminists because of her unorthodox concepts and lifestyle. Her best remembered work today is her semi-autobiographical short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper", which she wrote after a severe bout of post-partum depression.

She was the daughter of Frederic B. Perkins.

Reviews

[suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read this for a class, and I said what I needed to say about the Yellow Wallpaper. The other stories weren’t as interesting to me in my opinion. Charlotte Perkins Gilman really is a feminist and I love her for it. This book made very excited for my discussion lecture on Thursday!!!

I deleted the Yellow Wallpaper off of my list, but here is what I have to say about that story:

Very quick read for a class, but this short story really sets the scene on how women were treated in Society. Due to her depression and hysteria she was locked away in a room by her husband, and he practically manipulated her into trusting him by referring to himself as a doctor. While she already had hysteria, the wallpaper in the room caused her to fall into a deeper hallucination, which caused her symptoms to be worse!

It’s very upsetting that all she wanted to do was leave her room, and write, and to write she mentioned how she had to be “sly” and hide it from her husband. This is disappointing because her husband stated that she was getting better, but if she’s getting better why can’t she leave her room and write!! It did take me a second after I read this to really let it sink in, but it just angered me. Locking women away was something that a man always felt like he could be control in, and it’s disappointing that her own husband was afraid of her anxiety that instead of treating it and listening to how she felt, he locked her away.

I recommend reading this, but it will make you angry.

[Medhat ullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I’ve got out at last, in spite of you and Jane! And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!"
"I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus—but John says the very worst thing I can do is think about my condition."

[lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love yellow wallpaper, 5 stars! but the other stories were not as amazing. still good though.

[Hayley Dunning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each story smart, charming or deep.

[Samara · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Cottagette + An honest woman

[rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm writing this only for cottagette because i couldn't find it on its own to review. cottagette, i ADORE YOU SO! i braced for a horrible monster to crawl from the man malda loved, but it never happened. charlotte perkins gilman's work is so simple, i sometimes want just a bit more from it description wise. but this was just enough! i felt i was there, watching the story unfold. it's five stars for me not because it knocked me over, more so because it did not knock me over. it just...it fit comfortably in my palm.