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Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz

The Rebellion of Sylvia Plath & Anne Sexton
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( 1,374 ratings, 298 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
Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz by Gail Crowther explores the lives and legacies of poets Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton. Through engaging narratives, the book examines their friendship, personal struggles, and the impact they had on each other’s writing, as well as their lasting influence on literature.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3500
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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 lives of female poets in the 50s and 60s, and appreciate insights into their struggles, triumphs, and creative processes. It offers a captivating look into friendship, feminism, and literary history.

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Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz

A vividly rendered and empathetic biography of two of the greatest poets of the 20th century—Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton.

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

In this vividly rendered and empathetic biography of two of the greatest poets of the 20th century—Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton—“the friendship and rivalry that the pair shared—not to mention the titular cocktails at a Boston hotel—is explored in fascinating detail” (Town & Country).

Introduced at a poetry workshop in Boston University, Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton formed a friendship that would soon evolve into a fierce rivalry, coloured by jealousy and respect in equal terms.

In the years that followed, these two women would not only become iconic figures in literature, but also lead curiously parallel lives haunted by mental illness, suicide attempts, self-doubt, and difficult personal relationships. With weekly martini meetings at the Ritz to discuss everything from sex to suicide, theirs was a relationship as complex and subversive as their poetry.

Based on in-depth research and unprecedented archival access, Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz will leave you “hungering for more of what these two literary comets burned with: the power of a little poetry. Deliriously fast-paced and erudite, this is highly recommended” (Library Journal, starred review).

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781982138424

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 March 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Simon & Schuster

Illustration: 1 8-pg b&w insert

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 324g

Pages: 304

Customer Reviews

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Cas S.
Three Martinis at the Ritz by Gail Crowther

Three Martinis at the Ritz by Gail Crowther offers a poignant and insightful glimpse into the life of a woman in the 1950s. I found Crowther's exploration of societal expectations and personal aspirations to be eye-opening. The protagonist navigates a world where traditional roles often clash with individual desires, highlighting the struggles many women faced during that era.
Crowther’s rich descriptions and nuanced character development brought the 1950s to life, allowing me to appreciate the complexities of female identity at a time of significant change. This book beautifully captures the tension between conformity and self-expression, making it a thought-provoking read that resonates even today. It’s a wonderful exploration of how women carved out their paths amidst societal pressures, and I found it sad and tragic on one hand and inspiring and deeply moving on the other.

About the Author

Gail Crowther is a freelance writer, researcher, and academic. She is the author of The Haunted Reader and Sylvia Plath and the coauthor of Sylvia Plath in Devon: A Year’s Turning and These Ghostly Archives: The Unearthing of Sylvia Plath. Gail divides her time between the North of England with her dog, George, and London. As a feminist vegan she engages with politics concerning gender, power, and animal rights.

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