The unabridged journals of Sylvia Plath, 1950-1962

732 pages

English language

Published Dec. 14, 2000 by Anchor Books.

ISBN:: 978-0-385-72025-0
OCLC Number:: 44133088

"Published in their entirety for the first time, Sylvia Plath's journals provide a portrait of the writer who was to produce in the last seven months of her life some of the most extraordinary poems of the twentieth century. Faithfully transcribed from the twenty-three journals and journal fragments owned by Smith College, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath includes two journals that Plath's husband, Ted Hughes, unsealed just before his death in 1998.".

"A heavily abridged edition of Plath's diaries was published in 1982. Roughly two-thirds of this new unabridged edition is material that has never before been made public, revealing more fully the intensity of the poet's personal and literary struggles, and providing fresh insight into both her frequent desperation and the bravery with which she faced her demons.

With its haunting, vibrant, and brutally honest prose, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath is essential reading for …

"Published in their entirety for the first time, Sylvia Plath's journals provide a portrait of the writer who was to produce in the last seven months of her life some of the most extraordinary poems of the twentieth century. Faithfully transcribed from the twenty-three journals and journal fragments owned by Smith College, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath includes two journals that Plath's husband, Ted Hughes, unsealed just before his death in 1998.".

"A heavily abridged edition of Plath's diaries was published in 1982. Roughly two-thirds of this new unabridged edition is material that has never before been made public, revealing more fully the intensity of the poet's personal and literary struggles, and providing fresh insight into both her frequent desperation and the bravery with which she faced her demons.

With its haunting, vibrant, and brutally honest prose, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath is essential reading for all who have been moved and fascinated by Plath's life and work."--BOOK JACKET.

1 edition

Gertie MacDowell reviewed The unabridged journals of Sylvia Plath, 1950-1962 by Sylvia Plath

Uttely excellent

5 stars

An utterly excellent look behind the scenes of one of the 20th century's most intriguing poets. True, it is not for everyone as these are indeed, her journals. Never intended for publication, they are a hodgepodge of topics, styles, and times that are maddeningly inconsistent. That said there is no finer way to catch a glimpse of the woman behind the poetry.

The single most frustrating aspect of the Journals is what is glaringly missing. Her final two journals were destroyed after her death and it is these that cover the time when she was crafting the poems that made up the collection contained in 'Ariel'. How wonderful it would have been to see how she created and polished those! Alas, we will never know.

An utterly excellent look behind the scenes of one of the 20th century's most intriguing poets. True, it is not for everyone as these are indeed, her journals. Never intended for publication, they are a hodgepodge of topics, styles, and times that are maddeningly inconsistent. That said there is no finer way to catch a glimpse of the woman behind the poetry.

The single most frustrating aspect of the Journals is what is glaringly missing. Her final two journals were destroyed after her death and it is these that cover the time when she was crafting the poems that made up the collection contained in 'Ariel'. How wonderful it would have been to see how she created and polished those! Alas, we will never know.

Subjects

Plath, Sylvia -- Diaries.
Poets, American -- 20th century -- Diaries.