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My Second Home: Sylvia Plath in Paris, 1956
My Second Home: Sylvia Plath in Paris, 1956 (Dave Haslam)
Sylvia Plath was in Paris during Easter 1956, alone in a hotel near
Notre Dame. She’d grown to love the city after spending Christmas there
with Richard Sassoon and she’d hoped he‘d be with her for Easter too,
but he hadn’t answered her letters. She’d met Ted Hughes a month
earlier; Ted was also in her head, and within ten weeks they’d be
married.
In the fourth book in his Art Decades series, Dave Haslam describes this key period in Sylvia Plath’s life. We discover how she filled those Paris days, including having dinner with an Italian communist, instigating drunken afternoon sex with a friend of a friend, sketching in the park, and lying on her yellow bed in an attic room listening to the sound of the Paris rain as she considered decisions and future plans: in her phrase, ‘the fatal dance’ of choices and alternatives.
Sylvia Plath was in Paris during Easter 1956, alone in a hotel near
Notre Dame. She’d grown to love the city after spending Christmas there
with Richard Sassoon and she’d hoped he‘d be with her for Easter too,
but he hadn’t answered her letters. She’d met Ted Hughes a month
earlier; Ted was also in her head, and within ten weeks they’d be
married.
In the fourth book in his Art Decades series, Dave Haslam describes this key period in Sylvia Plath’s life. We discover how she filled those Paris days, including having dinner with an Italian communist, instigating drunken afternoon sex with a friend of a friend, sketching in the park, and lying on her yellow bed in an attic room listening to the sound of the Paris rain as she considered decisions and future plans: in her phrase, ‘the fatal dance’ of choices and alternatives.
- GenresBiography
Paperback
Published October 1, 2020
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About the author
Dave Haslam
21 books46 followersDave Haslam is an author and DJ. Originally from Moseley, Birmingham, he moved to Manchester in 1980, making his name as a DJ with 450 appearances at the Haçienda nightclub, including Thursday's Temperance club night in the late 1980s. In the 1990s he also hosted the weekly night Yellow at the Boardwalk nightclub in Manchester. His more recent DJ shows include clubs in Italy, USA, France, and Germany.
In the mid 1980s he founded the fanzine 'Debris' and went on to write for NME. His journalism has since appeared in The Times, The Guardian, The London Review of Books, The New Statesman and elsewhere. In 1999 he published Manchester, England, and, subsequently, Adventures on the Wheels of Steel, a book about the music and politics of the 1970s called Not Abba; the Real Story of the 1970s (reprinted as Young Hearts Run Free; the Real Story of the 1970s), a history of British nightclubs and music venues entitled 'Life After Dark', and his memoirs, 'Sonic Youth Slept On My Floor: Music, Manchester & More'.
His numerous other cultural interventions included creating an installation for the Berlin-based ‘Shrinking Cities’ exhibition; presenting a twenty minute talk on the North/South divide for BBC Radio 3; appearing on TV shows on BBC Two and on Channel 4, Granada TV, and Canal Plus (France). His 'Close Up' series of live interviews have attracted guest interviewees including Jonathan Franzen, Nile Rodgers and John Lydon.
In the mid 1980s he founded the fanzine 'Debris' and went on to write for NME. His journalism has since appeared in The Times, The Guardian, The London Review of Books, The New Statesman and elsewhere. In 1999 he published Manchester, England, and, subsequently, Adventures on the Wheels of Steel, a book about the music and politics of the 1970s called Not Abba; the Real Story of the 1970s (reprinted as Young Hearts Run Free; the Real Story of the 1970s), a history of British nightclubs and music venues entitled 'Life After Dark', and his memoirs, 'Sonic Youth Slept On My Floor: Music, Manchester & More'.
His numerous other cultural interventions included creating an installation for the Berlin-based ‘Shrinking Cities’ exhibition; presenting a twenty minute talk on the North/South divide for BBC Radio 3; appearing on TV shows on BBC Two and on Channel 4, Granada TV, and Canal Plus (France). His 'Close Up' series of live interviews have attracted guest interviewees including Jonathan Franzen, Nile Rodgers and John Lydon.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 26, 2025
Beautiful little read.
The last few pages reignited my intense dislike for Ted Hughes.
The last few pages reignited my intense dislike for Ted Hughes.
May 24, 2023
A typically strong essay from Dave Haslam, who brings in the poetry and posthumous releases of Sylvia Plath as examples of her love for Paris. Ted Hughes' contrast is well-explored in the latter stages of the essay, and Haslam draws the clear comparisons between someone who makes memories for themselves and those who understand the history and horror of an area. One of the few essays available where the outlook from two passing points are clear and agreeable. Plath fell in love with the people and spirit of a new form of place, the memories made there while Hughes remembers the horrors which, at the time, were fresh and still surface-level. What a contrast, what an essay.
August 10, 2022
In this beautifully presented small format book David Haslam explores Sylvia Plath’s time in Paris over Easter 1956. We read of her initial encounter with Ted Hughes just prior to her leaving for France and how this would quickly become an important relationship just as Plath was going through a break up with Richard Sassoon.
In such a few pages Haslam beautifully conjures up Paris of the mid fifties, Plath’s mind set and rather tortured love life giving the reader a wonderful book.
This is the first book in this series that I’ve read and have loved the insight that you gain about Plath even when the author is using a very short, specific period in time and how what happens in that period could have such an affect on her. Plath was a rollercoaster of emotions and you are so easily carried along on the ride.
Sylvia Plath is a fascinating character and this book gives you a great sense of her life, her heart and mind. All alongside a gorgeous cameo of Paris. David Haslams commentary is well written, insightful and comes beautifully presented. Well worth reading.
Book: purchased. We went to an independent publishers fair at Manchester Central Library and I bought the Dave Haslam book there.
In such a few pages Haslam beautifully conjures up Paris of the mid fifties, Plath’s mind set and rather tortured love life giving the reader a wonderful book.
This is the first book in this series that I’ve read and have loved the insight that you gain about Plath even when the author is using a very short, specific period in time and how what happens in that period could have such an affect on her. Plath was a rollercoaster of emotions and you are so easily carried along on the ride.
Sylvia Plath is a fascinating character and this book gives you a great sense of her life, her heart and mind. All alongside a gorgeous cameo of Paris. David Haslams commentary is well written, insightful and comes beautifully presented. Well worth reading.
Book: purchased. We went to an independent publishers fair at Manchester Central Library and I bought the Dave Haslam book there.
January 7, 2021
This is an engaging take on Sylvia Plath's life, connecting her poetry and fiction to real events in her life that may have influenced or shaped them, often quoting from Plath's journals in her own words. It's really good, but seems like it's missing something.
I have always found Plath's fiction, poetry and life story captivating, so I am unsure whether this catapulted me through the book rather than the narrative voice or structure. The narrative jumps around a lot and mentions other people more regularly for short bursts than Sylvia herself. Anecdotes relating to history and other public figures are great for context, but when it's more than a paragraph or two I have to wonder why Sylvia Plath was the central 'character' (for want of a better word), because let's face it... I came for The Plath and I won't be alone in that.
I'm interested to read more from this author, as his work is very readable, accessible and different to other things I've read recently.
I have always found Plath's fiction, poetry and life story captivating, so I am unsure whether this catapulted me through the book rather than the narrative voice or structure. The narrative jumps around a lot and mentions other people more regularly for short bursts than Sylvia herself. Anecdotes relating to history and other public figures are great for context, but when it's more than a paragraph or two I have to wonder why Sylvia Plath was the central 'character' (for want of a better word), because let's face it... I came for The Plath and I won't be alone in that.
I'm interested to read more from this author, as his work is very readable, accessible and different to other things I've read recently.
January 10, 2022
A short, incisive and colourful snapshot of a key time in Plath’s life - it’s an excellent idea to focus on short, autobiographical moments like this in order to cast light on a whole life and it works well.
January 28, 2022
I bought this pre publication and have only just got round to reading it. As an interested follower of the trials and tribulations of Sylvia Plath, this book uncovered some unknown truths about her life in Paris. I loved it xxx
January 21, 2021
A great, quick read!
July 22, 2021
Interesting take on Plath's time in Paris which stretches out further into her relationship with Ted Hughes.
December 30, 2021
Another well researched and thoughtfully written snapshot of a life, from the ‘Art Decades’ collection.
March 13, 2022
A well researched study of Sylvia Plath during her stay in Paris before she began her relationship with Ted Hughes
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews