Bayou Folk

Bayou Folk, a collection of twenty-three short stories by Kate Chopin, including the well known "Désirée's Baby".
Désirée, a beautiful young woman who grew up with foster parents, marries a successful plantation owner. But when their newborn child exhibits African American skin coloring, her husband claims Désirée's unknown parentage is to blame. But as Désirée wanders away we discover that her husband's racial identity is as ambiguous.
"At the 'Cadian Ball," another well-known story in the collection, features the dashing Alcée Laballiere, Chopin's fictional portrayal of her own lover, Albert Sampite.
Chopin is now considered by some to have been a forerunner of the feminist authors of the 20th century.