An Introduction to Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath is widely recognized as one of the leading figures in twentieth-century Anglo-American literature and culture. Her work has constantly remained in print in the UK and US (and in numerous translated editions) since the appearance of her first collection in 1960. Plath’s own writing has been supplemented over the decades by a wealth of critical and biographical material. The Cambridge Introduction to Sylvia Plath provides an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the poetry, prose and autobiographical writings of Sylvia Plath. It offers a critical overview of key readings, debates and issues from almost fifty years of Plath scholarship, draws attention to the historical, literary, national and gender contexts which frame her writing and presents informed and attentive readings of her own work. This accessibly written book will be of great use to students beginning their explorations of this important writer.

- Fully up-to-date assessment of Plath’s achievements and afterlife

- Suggests links between her poetry and her prose, letters and diaries

- Provides an overview of five decades of Plath scholarship

     Contents:

1. Life
2. Contexts
3. Early poetry
4. Ariel and later poetry
5. The Bell Jar and Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams
6. Letters Home and Journals
7. Reception