Sylvia Plath is one of the best-known and most widely studied modern poets. This is an ideal guide for students wanting to know more about her work, its composition and its relationship to Plath's life. It provides a clear introduction to Plath's life, her relationship with Ted Hughes and his influence on her poetry and its reception and close guidance on reading her poetry focusing particularly on the most commonly studied groups of poems. An overview of Plath's critical reception from contemporary reviews to the Hughes-Plath controversies includes that surrounding his publication of 'The Birthday Letters' and the section of adaptation and influence discusses the films based around 'The Bell Jar' and Plath's life. Finally, it offers a clear annotated guide to primary and secondary reading.
'Reader's Guides' provides a comprehensive starting point for any advanced student, giving an overview of the context, criticisms and influence of key works. Each guide also offers students fresh critical insights and provides a practical introduction to close reading and to analysing literary language and form. They provide up-to-date, authoritative but accessible guides to the most commonly studied classic texts.
