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The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories
This is an alternate cover for ISBN 0-486-29857-4 or 978-0-486-29857-3.
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.
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.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
70 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1997
About the author
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
1,114 books2,422 followersCharlotte 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.
She was the daughter of Frederic B. Perkins.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 29, 2021
Despite the titular short story, this little collection was unexpectedly funny and sweet, in certain places.
Evidently, it is thought-provoking, both as a work of fiction and as a window into the history of the American society of that time.
My favourite part is the author's dry humour, and her deadpan delivery of lines. I'm not sure I can articulate exactly what tickled me pink about Gilman's style, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book (that had been gathering dust on my various shelves for over 10 years).
I will most certainly read Gilman's other works.
Evidently, it is thought-provoking, both as a work of fiction and as a window into the history of the American society of that time.
My favourite part is the author's dry humour, and her deadpan delivery of lines. I'm not sure I can articulate exactly what tickled me pink about Gilman's style, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book (that had been gathering dust on my various shelves for over 10 years).
I will most certainly read Gilman's other works.
November 5, 2021
Will review this later. Really enjoyed this collection of short stories - feminism, gender roles, all good stuff. May jump to five stars.
January 29, 2022
Good For Her: An Anthology
November 9, 2024
Gilman was a prominent American author, social reformer and feminist. This edition contains seven of her short stories, each one carrying the theme of human independence and the pitfalls stereotypical male-female roles.
The title story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” was written in 1882 and is a haunting look at a young woman’s descent into madness while under the care of her well-meaning physician husband who subscribes to the then current Victorian views on women’s mental health care and treatment. This was the most complete of the stories but they all are well-crafted and carry pointed messages. I would conclude that Gilman was well ahead of her time in her thinking about gender roles but her writing doesn’t come across as polemical.
The title story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” was written in 1882 and is a haunting look at a young woman’s descent into madness while under the care of her well-meaning physician husband who subscribes to the then current Victorian views on women’s mental health care and treatment. This was the most complete of the stories but they all are well-crafted and carry pointed messages. I would conclude that Gilman was well ahead of her time in her thinking about gender roles but her writing doesn’t come across as polemical.
April 10, 2026
I like the creepiness of it and generally just a good book, I liked the ending a lot I think it’s very fitting
October 22, 2022
Sometimes as I was reading this collection, I had to pause and remember that these stories were written in the early 20th century. Yes, there were details in the settings to remind me that these stories were not modern, but the ideas in the stories were so decidedly modern and feminist that I was shocked Gilman was able to publish them in her lifetime. Though to be fair, most of them were published in her own magazine.
The women in these stories have rich inner lives, with ambitions, needs, and independent thoughts. Sometimes, the stories are almost idyllic, with the woman asserting her independence and a man supporting her and them living happily ever after. Other times, the stories serve as a warning of the consequences of ignoring women’s opinions and self-knowledge. The title story is a prime example of the severe consequences of unintentional gaslighting done to a woman who now would clearly be diagnosed with postpartum depression. She knows what she needs to feel better and advocates for it (getting out and seeing people, which is in fact an evidence-based treatment for depression), but is ignored and pooh poohed to disastrous effect.
The women in these stories have rich inner lives, with ambitions, needs, and independent thoughts. Sometimes, the stories are almost idyllic, with the woman asserting her independence and a man supporting her and them living happily ever after. Other times, the stories serve as a warning of the consequences of ignoring women’s opinions and self-knowledge. The title story is a prime example of the severe consequences of unintentional gaslighting done to a woman who now would clearly be diagnosed with postpartum depression. She knows what she needs to feel better and advocates for it (getting out and seeing people, which is in fact an evidence-based treatment for depression), but is ignored and pooh poohed to disastrous effect.
June 27, 2021
Starting with the classic story of the title, this book got off to a flyer. Moving to a house in the country, the narrator at first hates the room her husband chooses as their bedroom, but slowly becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper. As the story progresses we see her losing the grip on reality, but then it is never certain whether they moved there because she had already started suffering from a mental health illness. But it is such a well told story.
I expected more of the same type of story, but all of them are so different. From Mrs Morrison, trying to hold onto her family home after widowhood in Three Thanksgivings to the story of sisterly interference in Mr Peebles Heart they are all concerned with mundane life stories, but are all extremely readable and well written. I've read most of the seven stories twice and could quite happily read them again.
I expected more of the same type of story, but all of them are so different. From Mrs Morrison, trying to hold onto her family home after widowhood in Three Thanksgivings to the story of sisterly interference in Mr Peebles Heart they are all concerned with mundane life stories, but are all extremely readable and well written. I've read most of the seven stories twice and could quite happily read them again.
March 23, 2022
This was a spontaneous find and I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. They're all written from a feministic perspective, all dealing with (in-)dependence, love, social status, relationships and overcoming other people's expectations, and more.
My favourite stories were: The Yellow Wallpaper, Three Thanksgivings, Turned, & Mr. Peebles' Heart.
My favourite stories were: The Yellow Wallpaper, Three Thanksgivings, Turned, & Mr. Peebles' Heart.
April 17, 2024
Loved it!
I bought this assuming it was a collection of horror stories, but only "The Yellow Wallpaper" might fall into that genre. Instead this is a slim collection of early feminist fiction that proved far more interesting.
The standout, for me, was "Turned," which immediately took its place as one of my favorite short stories of all time.
I bought this assuming it was a collection of horror stories, but only "The Yellow Wallpaper" might fall into that genre. Instead this is a slim collection of early feminist fiction that proved far more interesting.
The standout, for me, was "Turned," which immediately took its place as one of my favorite short stories of all time.
March 22, 2021
this is a short story collection with literally no weak stories in it? i loved them all. if i had found this in grade 11 english i would've shaved my head for sure. my faves were three thanksgivings and making a change!! would recommend
April 15, 2021
• The Yellow Wallpaper: 5
• Three Thanksgivings: 2
• The Cottagette: 2
• Turned: 3
• Making a Change: 2
• If I Were a Man: 2
• Mr. Peebles’ Heart: 3
Best story: The Yellow Wallpaper
• Three Thanksgivings: 2
• The Cottagette: 2
• Turned: 3
• Making a Change: 2
• If I Were a Man: 2
• Mr. Peebles’ Heart: 3
Best story: The Yellow Wallpaper
June 29, 2021
⭐️ 4 ⭐️
Wow 👁👄👁
Wow 👁👄👁
June 22, 2022
My favourites were ‘turned’ and ‘Mr Peebles heart’. I love the feminist twist in each story.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews