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The Silent Woman

Sylvia Plath And Ted Hughes
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( 3,216 ratings, 319 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Silent Woman by Janet Malcolm delves into the complex relationship between Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, exploring the intricacies and controversies surrounding Plath's posthumous reputation. Through a series of interviews, Malcolm investigates claims and counterclaims about Plath's literary legacy and Hughes's role, unravelling the contentious dynamics between biographers, critics, and the poets themselves. It’s an insightful reflection on the nature of biography and its impact on subject and author.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by the intricate dynamics between biographers and their subjects. This insightful exploration of Sylvia Plath's legacy delves into the ethical dilemmas and conflicts that arise in the world of biography, offering a compelling perspective on literary history and the art of storytelling.

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Janet Malcolm's revelatory biography of the tumultuous union of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, and the critical battle that overshadows their legacies.

Janet Malcolm's revelatory biography of the tumultuous union of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, and the critical battle that overshadows their legacies.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Is it ever possible to know 'the truth' about Sylvia Plath and her marriage to Ted Hughes, which ended with her suicide? In The Silent Woman, Janet Malcolm (author of Reading Chekhov, The Journalist and the Murderer and In the Freud Archives) examines the biographies of Sylvia Plath, with particular focus on Anne Stevenson's Bitter Fame, to discover how Plath became an enigma in literary history.

The Silent Woman is a brilliant, elegantly reasoned inquiry into the nature of biography, dispelling our innocence as readers, as well as shedding a light onto why Plath's legend continues to exert such a hold on our imaginations.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Silent Woman by Janet Malcolm is praised for its depth, nuance, and analytical precision. Reviewers highlight the book as intellectually stimulating and morally provocative, with a narrative that flows effortlessly while addressing complex themes. It provides some of the finest insights into the challenges of biography, particularly focusing on the lives of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, with many describing it as brilliantly written and compellingly readable.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781783786237

Publisher: Granta Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 April 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Granta Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 230g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Janet Malcolm's books include Reading Chekhov, In the Freud Archives, The Silent Woman: Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes and Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession. Born in Prague, she grew up in New York, where she now lives.

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