One of The Atlantic's Great American Novels

A coming-of-age masterpiece. . . . Sylvia Plath has become one of the influential writers of her time. --Boston Globe

Sylvia Plath's masterwork--an acclaimed and enduring novel about a young woman falling into the grip of mental illness and societal pressures

Esther Greenwood is a bright, beautiful, enormously talented young woman, but she's slowly going under--maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath brilliantly draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that her neurosis becomes palpably real, even rational--as accessible an experience as going to the movies. A deep penetration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche, The Bell Jar is an extraordinary accomplishment and a haunting American classic.

This edition features extra insights into the book and author.

Pulitzer Prize winner Sylvia Plath's complete poetic works, edited and introduced by Ted Hughes.

By the time of her death on 11, February 1963, Sylvia Plath had written a large bulk of poetry. To my knowledge, she never scrapped any of her poetic efforts. With one or two exceptions, she brought every piece she worked on to some final form acceptable to her, rejecting at most the odd verse, or a false head or a false tail. Her attitude to her verse was artisan-like: if she couldn't get a table out of the material, she was quite happy to get a chair, or even a toy. The end product for her was not so much a successful poem, as something that had temporarily exhausted her ingenuity. So this book contains not merely what verse she saved, but--after 1956--all she wrote. -- Ted Hughes, from the Introduction

One of The Atlantic's Great American Novels

A beautifully designed Harper Perennial Deluxe Edition of this haunting American classic: a realistic and emotional novel about a woman battling mental illness and societal pressures written by the iconic American writer Sylvia Plath.

It is this perfectly wrought prose and the freshness of Plath's voice in The Bell Jar that make this book enduring in its appeal. -- USA Today

The Bell Jar chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under--maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that Esther's neurosis becomes completely real and even rational, as probable and accessible an experience as going to the movies. Such deep penetration into the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche is an extraordinary accomplishment and has made The Bell Jar an enduring classic.

Sylvia Plath's last poems have impressed themselves on many readers with the force of myth. They are among the handful of writings by which future generations will seek to know us and give us a name. -- The Critical Quarterly

Sylvia Plath's celebrated collection.

When Sylvia Plath died, she not only left behind a prolific oeuvre but also her unpublished literary masterpiece, Ariel. Ted Hughes helped bring the collection to life in 1966, and its publication garnered worldwide acclaim. This collection showcases the beloved poet's brilliant, provoking, and always moving poems, including Ariel, The Applicant, Lady Lazarus, and Edge, and once again shows why readers have fallen in love with her work over generations.

Made up of poems that are so original in their style and so startlingly accomplished in their confessional voice that they helped change the direction of contemporary poetry, Ariel is a masterpiece. -- New York Observer

Sylvia Plath's famous collection, as she intended it.

When Sylvia Plath died, she not only left behind a prolific life but also her unpublished literary masterpiece, Ariel. When her husband, Ted Hughes, first brought this collection to the public, it garnered worldwide acclaim, but it wasn't the draft Sylvia had wanted her readers to see. This facsimile edition restores, for the first time, Plath's original manuscript--including handwritten notes--and her own selection and arrangement of poems. This edition also includes in facsimile the complete working drafts of her poem Ariel, which provide a rare glimpse into the creative process of a beloved writer. This publication introduces a truer version of Plath's works, and will alter her legacy forever.

Pulitzer Prize winner Sylvia Plath's complete poetic works, edited and introduced by Ted Hughes.

By the time of her death on 11, February 1963, Sylvia Plath had written a large bulk of poetry. To my knowledge, she never scrapped any of her poetic efforts. With one or two exceptions, she brought every piece she worked on to some final form acceptable to her, rejecting at most the odd verse, or a false head or a false tail. Her attitude to her verse was artisan-like: if she couldn't get a table out of the material, she was quite happy to get a chair, or even a toy. The end product for her was not so much a successful poem, as something that had temporarily exhausted her ingenuity. So this book contains not merely what verse she saved, but--after 1956--all she wrote.--Ted Hughes, from the Introduction

To the person in the bell jar blank and stopped as a dead baby the world itself is a bad dream.

In the hauntingly beautiful pages of The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath takes us on a gripping journey into the fragile psyche of Esther Greenwood. Set against the backdrop of 1950s America this semiautobiographical novel explores the stifling expectations placed upon women and the suffocating grasp of societal norms. As Esther grapples with her ambitions desires and mental health she finds herself trapped in a metaphorical bell jar--an oppressive glass enclosure that isolates her from the world.

Plath's evocative prose and poignant portrayal of Esther's descent into madness make The Bell Jar a timeless masterpiece that shines a searing light on the complexities of the human psyche and the unrelenting quest for self-identity.

A Special Hardcover Edition to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Publication of Sylvia Plath's Remarkable Novel

It is this perfectly wrought prose and the freshness of Plath's voice in The Bell Jar that make this book enduring in its appeal. -- USA Today

The shocking, realistic, and intensely emotional novel about a woman battling mental illness and societal pressures written by iconic American writer Sylvia Plath.

Esther Greenwood is brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under--maybe for the last time. In her acclaimed and enduring masterwork, Sylvia Plath brilliantly draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that her neurosis becomes palpably real, even rational--as accessible an experience as going to the movies. A deep penetration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche, The Bell Jar is an extraordinary accomplishment and a haunting American classic.

A beautiful hardcover selection the best-loved poems of Pulitzer Prize-winner Sylvia Plath, author of The Bell Jar. AN EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY POCKET POET.

Sylvia Plath's tragically abbreviated career as a poet began with work that was, in the words of one of her teachers, Robert Lowell, formidably expert. It ended with a group of poems published after her suicide in 1963 which are, in the nakedness of their confessions, in their black humor, in their ferocious honesty about what people do to one another and to themselves, among the most harrowing lyrics in the English language--poems in which a magnificent, exquisitely disciplined literary gift has been brought to bear upon the unbearable. In these transfiguring poems, Plath managed the rarest of feats: she changed the direction and orientation of an art form.

This Everyman's Library Pocket Poets edition includes:

- Lady Lazarus
- Daddy
- Morning Song
- Tulips
- The Moon and the Yew Tree
- Ariel
- Poppies in October
- Death & Co.

Everyman's Library pursues the highest production standards, printing on acid-free cream-colored paper, with full-cloth cases with two-color foil stamping, decorative endpapers, silk ribbon markers, European-style half-round spines, and a jewel-toned jacket.

[Plath's] story is stirring, in sneaky, unexpected ways. . . . Look carefully and there's a new angle here -- on how, and why, we read Plath today.-- Parul Sehgal, New York Times

Never before published, this newly discovered story by literary legend Sylvia Plath stands on its own and is remarkable for its symbolic, allegorical approach to a young woman's rebellion against convention and forceful taking control of her own life.

Written while Sylvia Plath was a student at Smith College in 1952, Mary Ventura and The Ninth Kingdom tells the story of a young woman's fateful train journey.

Lips the color of blood, the sun an unprecedented orange, train wheels that sound like guilt, and guilt, and guilt these are just some of the things Mary Ventura begins to notice on her journey to the ninth kingdom.

But what is the ninth kingdom? she asks a kind-seeming lady in her carriage. It is the kingdom of the frozen will, comes the reply. There is no going back.

Sylvia Plath's strange, dark tale of female agency and independence, written not long after she herself left home, grapples with mortality in motion.

This books is a collection of poetry by SYLVIA PLATH. He was an American poet, novelist, and short-story writer. She is credited with advancing the genre of confessional poetry and is best known for two of her published collections, The Colossus and Other Poems (1960) and Ariel (1965), as well as The Bell Jar, a semi-autobiographical novel published shortly before her death in 1963. The Collected Poems were published in 1981, which included previously unpublished works. For this collection Plath was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 1982, making her the fourth to receive this honour posthumously.

With this startling, exhilarating book of poems, which was first published in 1960, Sylvia Plath burst into literature with spectacular force. - [Her poems] have that exquisite, heart-breaking quality about them that has made Sylvia Plath our acknowledged Queen of Sorrows. --Joyce Carol Oates, The New York Times

In such classics as The Beekeeper's Daughter, The Disquieting Muses, I Want, I Want, and Full Fathom Five, she writes about sows and skeletons, fathers and suicides, about the noisy imperatives of life and the chilly hunger for death.

Graceful in their craftsmanship, wonderfully original in their imagery, and presenting layer after layer of meaning, the forty poems in The Colossus are early artifacts of genius that still possess the power to move, delight, and shock.

Crossing the Water, a collection of poems written just prior to those in Ariel, . . . is of immense importance in recording [Plath's] extraordinary development. One senses on every page a voice coming into its own, the chaos of a lifetime at last getting ready to assume its final, triumphant shape. -- Kirkus Reviews

Sylvia Plath's extraordinary collection pushes the envelope between dark and light, between our deep passions and desires that are often in tension with our duty to family and society. Water becomes a metaphor for the surface veneer that many of us carry, but Plath explores how easily this surface can be shaken and disturbed.

What I fear most, I think, is the death of the imagination. . . . If I sit still and don't do anything, the world goes on beating like a slack drum, without meaning. We must be moving, working, making dreams to run toward; The poverty of life without dreams is too horrible to imagine. -- Sylvia Plath, Cambridge Notes (From Notebooks, February 1956)

Renowned for her poetry, Sylvia Plath was also a brilliant writer of prose. This collection of short stories, essays, and diary excerpts highlights her fierce concentration on craft, the vitality of her intelligence, and the yearnings of her imagination. Featuring an introduction by Plath's husband, the late British poet Ted Hughes, these writings also reflect themes and images she would fully realize in her poetry. Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams truly showcases the talent and genius of Sylvia Plath.

Step into the intellectual battleground of the 1920s with Aldous Huxley's gripping masterpiece, 'Point Counter Point.' In this riveting novel, Huxley masterfully weaves a tapestry of human relationships, moral dilemmas, and the clash of ideas, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world. Follow the lives of a diverse cast of characters, from artists and scientists to socialites and revolutionaries, as they grapple with their ambitions, desires, and the seismic shifts in society. Huxley's razor-sharp wit and incisive commentary on politics, philosophy, and human nature will leave you pondering the intricacies of existence long after you've turned the last page. 'Point Counter Point' is a symphony of ideas, a thoughtprovoking exploration of the human condition, and a compelling examination of the tensions between love and reason. With its richly drawn characters and thought-provoking themes, this timeless classic is a must-read for anyone who craves a novel that challenges the mind and stirs the soul. Join Aldous Huxley on a journey through the intellectual and emotional landscapes of his unforgettable characters, and discover why 'Point Counter Point' remains a powerful and relevant work in today's ever-changing world.

Sylvia Plath's correspondence, addressed chiefly to her mother, from her time at Smith College in the early 1950s up to her suicide in London in February 1963. In addition to her capacity for domestic and writerly happiness, these letters also hint at her potential for deep despair.

The silence depressed me. It wasn't the silence of silence. It was my own silence. Esther Greenwood is a beautiful and immensely talented young lady who dreamt of being a great writer. As a college student she travelled from Massachusetts to New York to work on a magazine for a month as a guest editor. While there, she is showered with fancy dinners, and elite networking. Esther knew she should be having the time of her life, but something was wrong, and she felt deadened. Little she knew that this was the beginning of a clinical depression which would take all sense of life out of her. After a visit from a beloved professor, she starts to believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Months of treatment later, Esther leaves the mental hospital in time to start college. She now knew that life would be a seesaw of good and bad days, and the bell jar could ring either with sadness or elation, she just needed to hear it jingle and practice what she learnt. The Bell Jar is an intimate, and uplifting narrative written with the expert stroke of the finest writers of the century; meant to make the reader feel supported and hopeful in their journey.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a captivating and introspective novel that falls into the genre of contemporary literature. It is a semi-autobiographical work that explores themes of mental health, identity, and societal pressures. Set in the 1950s, the story follows Esther Greenwood, a talented and ambitious young woman who experiences a downward spiral into mental illness. Plath takes readers on a deeply personal journey as Esther grapples with her own anxieties, societal expectations, and the suffocating grip of the bell jar of depression. Through Plath's haunting prose, readers are invited into Esther's mind, witnessing her struggles, fears, and moments of fleeting hope. The novel provides a raw and unflinching examination of mental health, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals in a society that often stigmatizes and misunderstands mental illness. The Bell Jar not only offers a powerful exploration of one woman's journey, but it also delves into broader themes of identity and the constraints imposed by societal norms. Plath's exquisite storytelling and poetic language immerse readers in the depths of Esther's psyche, creating an emotionally charged narrative that leaves a lasting impact. With its honest portrayal of mental health and societal pressures, The Bell Jar has become a seminal work in literature, resonating with readers and sparking conversations about the importance of mental well-being. Plath's powerful and evocative prose continues to captivate audiences, making The Bell Jar a timeless and essential piece of contemporary literature.

En el 60. aniversario de su publicación original, la edición ilustrada por Sonia Pulido (Premio Nacional de Ilustración) rinde homenaje a una voz única de las letras norteamericanas.

«Respiré profundamente y escuché el antiguo estribillo de mi corazón.

Yo soy, yo soy, yo soy .

Esta es la historia de una chica que tiene todo lo que una joven puede desear en el Nueva York de los años cincuenta: una carrera prometedora, un pretendiente que estudia medicina y toda una vida por delante. Esther Greenwood ha ganado una beca para trabajar en una revista de moda en la gran ciudad y siente que por fin podrá realizar su sueño de ser escritora. Pero entre cócteles, noches de fiesta y pilas de manuscritos descubre una sociedad que repudia las aspiraciones de las mujeres y su vida empieza a desmoronarse. Esther -alter ego de la autora- se encierra en sí misma, como si estuviera atrapada en una campana de cristal: respirando continuamente el mismo aire viciado y sin posibilidad de escapar.

Sesenta años después de su publicación original, La campana de cristal se ha convertido en un clásico moderno, y las palabras de Plath conservan todo su impacto. Esta obra icónica, como dice Aixa de la Cruz en el prólogo, «viaja al presente como una corriente eléctrica y nos interpela de tú a tú, sin mediaciones .

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

On the 60th anniversary since its original publication, this special edition illustrated by award-winning Sonia Pulido pays tribute to a unique voice in North American literature.

A haunting American classic: a realistic and emotional novel about a woman battling mental illness and societal pressures written by the iconic American writer Sylvia Plath.

It is this perfectly wrought prose and the freshness of Plath's voice in The Bell Jar that make this book enduring in its appeal. -- USA Today

The Bell Jar chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under--maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that Esther's neurosis becomes completely real and even rational, as probable and accessible an experience as going to the movies. Such deep penetration into the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche is an extraordinary accomplishment and has made The Bell Jar an enduring classic.

The silence depressed me. It wasn't the silence of silence. It was my own silence. Esther Greenwood is a beautiful and immensely talented young lady who dreamt of being a great writer. As a college student she travelled from Massachusetts to New York to work on a magazine for a month as a guest editor. While there, she is showered with fancy dinners, and elite networking. Esther knew she should be having the time of her life, but something was wrong, and she felt deadened. Little she knew that this was the beginning of a clinical depression which would take all sense of life out of her. After a visit from a beloved professor, she starts to believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Months of treatment later, Esther leaves the mental hospital in time to start college. She now knew that life would be a seesaw of good and bad days, and the bell jar could ring either with sadness or elation, she just needed to hear it jingle and practice what she learnt. The Bell Jar is an intimate, and uplifting narrative written with the expert stroke of the finest writers of the century; meant to make the reader feel supported and hopeful in their journey.