Her greatest works were two collections of short stories, Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Acadie (1900). (1897). "Desiree's Baby" (1893), a story on miscegenation in antebellum Louisiana, "The Story of an Hour" (1894), and "The Storm" (1895) were among her notable short pieces (1898). She also wrote one novel, The Awakening (1899). Chopin is considered the first American female writer to have made a significant impact on world literature. Her work was widely read during her lifetime and today is valued for its portrayal of women's issues such as feminism, slavery, racial discrimination, and sexual freedom. Kate Chopin was born on May 20, 1848, in St. Louis, Missouri. When she was only nine years old, her family moved to New Orleans where she would eventually graduate from high school. In 1865, at the age of 17, she married George de Hahn, Jr., a wealthy civil engineer. They had three children together before divorcing in 1872. In 1880, Chopin traveled with her children to Europe. While there, she visited many countries including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Upon her return to America, she settled in Paris where she lived for several years. In 1889, she returned home to New Orleans where she died at the age of 36. Today, her body lies in Magnolia Cemetery in downtown New Orleans.