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.
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"Finally now, young women writers can cease to identify with the apparent self-destroyer in Sylvia Plath and begin to understand the forces she had to reckon with." -- --Adrienne Rich
"One is left willing to bestow on Sylvia Plath the compassion and charity she so relentlessly and fatally denied herself." -- --Saturday Review
"One is left willing to bestow on Sylvia Plath the compassion and charity she so relentlessly and fatally denied herself." -- --Saturday Review
About the Author
Sylvia Plath was born in 1932 in Massachusetts. Her books include the poetry collections The Colossus, Crossing the Water, Winter Trees, Ariel, and The Collected Poems, which won the Pulitzer Prize. A complete and uncut facsimile edition of Ariel was published in 2004 with her original selection and arrangement of poems. She was married to the poet Ted Hughes, with whom she had a daughter, Frieda, and a son, Nicholas. She died in London in 1963.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book gives an great insight into the mind of one the most incredible writers ever. All her thoughts and feelings are expressed so wonderfully. Even in her letters she keeps the same dry wit and rage that draws so many people to her. She was an incredible writer and this is just another example of her fine work.
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By bubblyhayhay
Format:Paperback
Letter Home contains all of the letters that Sylvia wrote to her Mother, Warren and Mrs Prouty from 1950-1963 and span her university life, up to her marriage to Ted Hughes and beyond.
The best thing about this book is the enthusiasm for study, success and a family that Plath shows in the letters.
As a fan I often imagine her as a moody person like her poems sometimes suggests but Plath appears happy and full of life and love in each letter.
I particularly enjoyed the letters from the time she met Ted and started a family with him as their plans and gaining success were so well deserved and interesting.
Letters Home comes with an introduction by Plath's Mother who also adds a few bits of context throughout.
I stopped reading after the birth of her second child as the letters became quite sad and as a fan I knew what was going to happen and didn't want to ruin the way the book showed a very happy side of Plath.
I particularly liked the following passage that Plath wrote advising a boy suffering a breakdown similar to hers:
`When he dies, his marks will not be written on his gravestone. If he loved a book, been kind to someone, enjoyed a certain colour in the sea - that is the thing that show whether he has lived.'
I recommend this to all Plath fans.
The best thing about this book is the enthusiasm for study, success and a family that Plath shows in the letters.
As a fan I often imagine her as a moody person like her poems sometimes suggests but Plath appears happy and full of life and love in each letter.
I particularly enjoyed the letters from the time she met Ted and started a family with him as their plans and gaining success were so well deserved and interesting.
Letters Home comes with an introduction by Plath's Mother who also adds a few bits of context throughout.
I stopped reading after the birth of her second child as the letters became quite sad and as a fan I knew what was going to happen and didn't want to ruin the way the book showed a very happy side of Plath.
I particularly liked the following passage that Plath wrote advising a boy suffering a breakdown similar to hers:
`When he dies, his marks will not be written on his gravestone. If he loved a book, been kind to someone, enjoyed a certain colour in the sea - that is the thing that show whether he has lived.'
I recommend this to all Plath fans.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Conaway
Format:Paperback
From Aurelia Plath's intimate introduction and comments throughout to Sylvia's personal words and insights, I can't praise this book enough. Sylvia's growth as a writer and a woman are charted here. Her relationship with Mrs. Prouty is more intimately revealed as well. A must!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
An important adjunct to Plath's journals
Too much was cut out of LETTERS HOME by Sylvia's mother Aurelia. It had to be done to please Ted Hughes. Even so, the buoyant side of Plath's personality is well in evidence. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Carl Rollyson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loving the Dearest of Mothers
Mrs. Plath wanted to share the daughter she knew and loved with a world starving for more written by the enigmatic Sylvia Plath. Read more
Published on February 23, 2011 by Emilie
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Wrath of Plath . . .
is nowwhere to be found here. I knew that Sylvia Plath's letters to her mother and brother were (over) edited by her husband, Ted Hughes so I was forewarned somewhat. Read more
Published on May 22, 2010 by Suzinne Barrett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it
I love reading about Syliva Plath's life so if your a fan then this is definatley a book to add to your collection. Read more
Published on May 19, 2009 by J. C. Flanagan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engrossing.
After reading The Bell Jar I wanted to know everything I could possibly know about Sylvia Plath. I'd never read an author's journal or letters before, and I loved it! Read more
Published on February 10, 2009 by Nicole Del Sesto
