'At Fault', which mirrors Chopin's own life, was written at the beginning of her career and introduces characters and themes that appeared later in her accliamed novel 'The Awakening'. Set in the post-Reconstruction South against the backdrop of economic devastation and simmering racial tensions, this is the story of Therese Lafirme, a beautiful young Creole widow, who falls in love with a divorced businessman, David Hosmer. When her moral and religious convictions compel her to reject Hosmer's marriage proposal, the two are set on a tumultuous journey. 'Kate Chopin' was a influential author that introduced powerful female characters to the american literacy world. She was most known for her brilliant book The Awakening. However at that time it received many negative reviews, causing the downfall of Kate's writing career. Now the book is such a influential story that it is being taught in classrooms throughout the world. Kate Chopin was an author best known for her strong leading female characters. The essence of her characters was based on her female oriented upbringing. She was raised at home by her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.