This is probably the least famous of the Plath biographies, if only because it didn't cause a slew of court cases or international incidents. Linda Wagner-Martin's SYLVIA PLATH was gutted by the Plath estate, Janet Malcom's THE SILENT WOMAN is a meta-biography, and Anne Stevenson's BITTER FAME is just plain bizarre---all are fascinating reads in their own right, but for class prep Alexander's tends to be the one I turn to. It doesn't quote Plath's personal papers, mainly to avoid the legal issue More...

During 2006 and 2008 I was overcome with desire to revisit the life of Sylvia Plath, the American poet who killed herself in England in 1963 at the age of 32. She left a manuscript of the collection of poems called Ariel (and two tiny children). That was the beginning of her legacy and cult status. The irony was that her estranged husband, Ted Hughes, later poet laureate of England, became inextricably tied to her mother in overseeing the publication and restrictive use of her work. For the rest More...

I was first introduced to the poetry of Sylvia Plath when I was in my late teens. I had read some of Ted Hughes poems a couple of years before. For whatever, I read poetry under my grandparents tutelage, (I have never been told why my parents guidance was deemed inadequate) and I remember my grandfather telling me when I brought him my prized Faber and Faber edition of Selected Poems by Sylvia Plath that "Ted Hughes was not good to her."

This books avoids the Plath/Hughes that has plagued so many More...

I think it was a shit book, only made somewhat interesting by the subject matter itself. I do not wish to go on, as many others have already explained why the author chose not to quote from basically ANY actual material, but what this left the reader with was the most simplistic, vacuous paraphrasing of an entire book length work!

To make matters worse (and this part is not the authors fault) I just keep becoming more and more pissed off at Ted. I suppose this is because it's the third book in r More...

I first read this book a few years ago as I was first discovering my fascination with Sylvia Plath and her poetry when I wanted to know more about her life. Truthfully, this is the only biography of Sylvia that I've ever read and, really, as it is the only biography untainted by Ted Hughes' control that I know of, probably the only one I will read. Perhaps that makes me biased. So be it. The fact that this was brought about by the author seeking out the counsel of Sylvia's mother, Aurelia, only More...

Presents the brief and troubled life of one of the great poets of our time. This book also gives the reader an idea of how social mores and societal pressures of the 1950s in America acted as such an oppressive force on women, and hindered them from manifesting their innate gifts and wisdom. Unfortunately, the author was prevented from quoting from Sylvia Plath's work, because of restrictions placed upon use of her work by Ted Hughes, but, happily, these can be obtained elsewhere. The book does More...

The first half of this book was a little disappointing. The author got so caught up in Plath's social life and activities throughout college that he didn't really talk about her growth as a writer or a person. Her suicide attempt doesn't really make sense in the context of his story of her life, because he only talks about petty fights she has with other girls or breakups with her many boyfriends.
However, once the book got around to describing Plath's adult life, her marriage to Ted Hughes, and More...

This book was okay. I am not a big fan of biographies to begin with, because I like a lot of action and dialogue. I am not in favor of big description. This is probably why I had such a hard time reading the book, although I did finish it. Her story is a sad one, but one that deserves to be known. Overall it wasn't a bad book, but I've definitely read better. I didn't like how he didn't quote any of her works, however.

The book starts out with Alexander explaining how he got the information he di More...

My brother, Paul, wrote this book so I've read it more times than i can remember. I am of course a huge fan of everything Plath wrote and have read her poems and the Bell Jar numerous times. The book is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a brilliant young woman who i think is so popular because so many people can identify with her plight. Her death was a devastating loss to the literary world and the fact that she-at times-doubted her abilities as a writer make her all the more intriguing. I More...

What is there to say about her? I’m addicted. Ever since I read Lady Lazarus for the first time and got that awful incredible punched-in-the-stomach feeling, I’ve been hooked.

It’s hard, reading this sort of thing and realizing that there are things she wrote that I’ll never get to read - a sequel to The Bell Jar, for instance, that she burned when she found out about Ted Hughes’ affair. She wrote a different sequel later, but as far as I can tell it was never published either. The number of poem More...

The best and most sympathetic biography written about this amazing poet. Regarding Ted Hughes and their relationship, Alexander doesn't gloss over events. Toward the end, Alexander focuses on the things that led Plath to the depression and despair she probably felt while writing Ariel and that led to her death by suicide. Alexander leaves hardly any stone unturned in exploring her tragic death. He speculates in the book that Hughes may have hypnotized Plath, urging her to kill herself. The two d More...

It was...okay. I think I was biased coming into this book because I don't care about Sylvia Plath that much, and I am not much of a historicist. The first half was almost unreadable - all it did was obsess over her social life in junior high and college. The second half was better when it talked about the Ted Hughes, but was still glacially paced. I understand that Plath's life was pretty short so there was not much to write about, but my problem with the book is that it's too mediated. No voice More...

This felt like a social calendar. A very sympathetic retelling of What Plath Did. Not why, and glosses over some parts of her life. Aurelia Plath comes off looking good, which doesn't sound right.
Great snips of correspondence included in text - the only reason why this gets a pass.
And this is probably one of the better biographies of Plath.

Of all the biographies I've read of Syvia's life, this one is the stand out. The detail that Alexander uses is unbelievable - almost so much that the book reads as fictionalized. This book made me feel as though I was there, watching, as Sylvia navigated through a twisted world, filled with ups and downs. Thank you so much for this amazing read.

This book was an absolutely amazing account of Sylvia Plath's life. Accurate and detailed information without using any direct quotes from Plath or Hughes. This really hit home for me. I'm in the process of writing a 20 page psycho-biography on Plath

I didn't know muc about Sylvia Plath - I knew some of her poems, her marriage to husband Ted Hughes and her suicide by sticking her head in a gas oven. This book fleshed out much more of her life and was an interesting, albeit sad read.

Fair and balanced biography, but never really gives the reader the feeling of Plath. Makes various inferences from the facts that don't ring true. Lots of information, but not particularly well-written/constructed.

Absolutely worth the read. The only things lacking were more photographs and clarification of a few vague, but critically important statements (in particular about Alvarez's use of the word "gamble" and Ted's subsequent denial).

This took me over a month to plough through. The author did extensive research including Plath's diary. There was a compelling aspect to this talented poet's story but the amount of details Alexander included made it a tedious journey. I think he must have covered every date she had and the menus for way too many meals. The book could be pared down to a 3rd of its size and still inform the reader adequately.

While some of the facts do not seem to match up with those published elsewhere, I have come to the understanding that "fact" is a relative term and that no biographies will every completely mirror others on the same subject (for many reasons), especially biographies of Plath and those around her. Having said all of that, this book is the best I've read on Plath so far. It is remarkably balanced--there is little outright animosity toward Ted Hughes and not much cover-up when it comes to Plath's s More...

Well researched account of Plath's works, some glimpses into her emotional/psychological issues, attempts at suicide, stay at McLean Hospital.

Anyone curious about the life of the poet Sylvia Plath needs to read this excellent detailed biography.

One of the best biographies of Sylvia Plath I've read. Informative and not too terribly biased.

This is one of the better biographies that I've read on Sylvia. The author had a relationship and correspondence with Plath's mother, which I think gave her a sensitivity that other biographers lack sometimes. It was a great read.

Soooo intriguing...a deep look into the life of one of my favorite poets.

Very insightful as to the life of Sylvia Plath....no sugar coat needed.

Excellent addition to the bios of SP, another perspective

Not so hot

A very good, sympathetic biography. A compelling read.

Sylvia Plath is a compelling subject but this guy's a clunky writer. Date read is a guess. The title is from "The Tempest". One of Prospero's speeches. Plath named one collection of her work after Ariel. Rough Magic is part of the name of my website. Date read is a guess.