Sylvia Plath - A Critical Guide (Paperback, Main)

With this benchmark study, Kendall rectifies the preoccupation many scholars and students have with Plath's life over her writing. From the formal reserve of The Colossus to the groundbreaking Ariel, her poems are met with fresh and objective insight.

Taking a roughly chronological approach, Kendall investigates the unique nature of Plath's poetic gift, finding—in ample references to Letters Home, The Bell Jar, The Journals, and many other such stories, narratives, and biographical accounts—an essential unity in her inspiration. He traces the evolution of Plath's recurring themes as a poet while also revealing how Plath was constantly concerned with remaking herself artistically, always experimenting with different styles, forms, and subjects.