List of Books by Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath (1932–1963) is one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Her circle included National Book Award winner Robert Lowell, Jr. (Life Studies and For The Union Dead) and Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Sexton (The Complete Poems: Anne Sexton), both of whom encouraged Plath to use her own experiences – including her treatment for depression – in her poems. This was a rather radical idea at the time, especially for a young woman. Plath's mother sued her to prevent publication of her semi–autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar, originally considered so scandalous that it was first released under a pseudonym but is now a celebrated modern classic. Plath's poetry collection Ariel was published after her suicide in 1963; her single volume The Collected Poems won the Pulitzer Prize posthumously in 1982.

All Books By Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath Books

Find all the books by Sylvia Plath, the celebrated American author, at Barnes & Noble. Known for her emotionally raw and powerful poetry, her famous semi-autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar, and numerous short stories, Sylvia Plath's writing was considered controversial during her time. Delving into her own personal experiences with depression, her words were intimate and intense often touching on sensitive issues like gender, identity and mental illness.Whether you're a lover of Plath's poetry, reading The Bell Jar for a class assignment or you're browsing Sylvia Plath's books out of curiosity, these are all great reasons to read the author's work. One of the most profound character portraits of mental illness, The Bell Jar tells the story of a brilliant young artist who is losing her mind. Grappling with themes of feminism, societal pressures and ambition, this is a deep dive into a mind capable of so much being gradually reduced to so little.Sylvia Plath's poetry encompasses several books. Written in a confessional poetry writing style, her poems, autobiographical in nature, revealed Plath's innermost thoughts, feelings, fears and struggles. Pick up The Collected Poems for which she won the Pulitzer Prize after her death or discover Ariel, her literary masterpiece that was collected by her husband, author Ted Hughes, and published posthumously.Although her life was tragically cut short by her battle with depression, Sylvia Plath's hauntingly beautiful writing lives on through her books and a large fanbase of devoted readers. If you want to learn more about the author, consider reading books about Sylvia Plath including Red Comet, one of the best books of 2020. If you're looking for books by comparable authors, you might enjoy works by Anne Sexton, Virginia Woolf and Robert Lowell.

Which Sylvia Plath book should I read first?

Since Plath is best known for her poetry and her novel, this choice depends on your particular interests. If you're a lover of poems, then Ariel would be a great choice, if you're curious about Sylvia Plath as a person or if you're in the mood to read a longer, unique work by the author, then her novel, The Bell Jar, can be more insightful.

Why did Sylvia Plath write The Bell Jar?

Originally published under the pseudonym of Victoria Lucas, The Bell Jar, criticizes societal roles imposed on women. By writing this fictional novel, Plath was able to share her own difficulties within this social system, offering her reflections on mental illness and gender identity to a large audience of readers.

Was Sylvia Plath a feminist?

Although her works of existential exploration are often considered feminist in nature, Plath did not directly identify as a feminist herself.