From Goodreads When Sylvia Plath died, she not only left behind a prolific life but also her unpublished literary masterpiece, Ariel. When her husband, Ted Hughes, first brought this collection to life, it garnered worldwide acclaim, though it wasn't the draft Sylvia had wanted her readers to see. This facsimile edition restores, for the first time, Plath's original manuscript—including handwritten notes—and her own selection and arrangement of poems. This edition also includes in facsimile the complete working drafts of her poem "Ariel," which provide a rare glimpse into the creative process of a beloved writer. This publication introduces a truer version of Plath's works, and will no doubt alter her legacy forever.

From me Interesting from a writer's perspective, in terms of seeing the handwritten notes/revisions/arrangements. It's always wonderful to get a peek into a writer's mind, even if it is fleeting. Though I think it's important from a historical perspective to see how Sylvia wanted to be presented, at the same time, it feels disjointed and rushed (though I have little doubt that her mind was also in such a pressured state during writing). This is not an easy read, and it definitely qualifies as dark and difficult subject matter.

Fans of Plath; those seeking insight to a poet's process; those who have not seen the collection as Plath intended; those who are aren't afraid of the darker side of introspective poetry.

The raw honesty of Plath's words. There is no doubt she could spill her blood through metaphor and turn of phrase, just as there is no doubt she could eviscerate someone with the skill of a surgeon, using nothing more than a pen.

It often felt disjointed - scattered, circular and repetitive in tone and feeling. Several poems were not particularly memorable

Go back and read The Bell Jar, which is no less heartbreaking than this collection, and has a poetic quality to the prose. While poetry and prose can't be directly compared, I found The Bell Jar to evoke a stronger visceral reaction, despite the decidedly darker tone of this collection.

Disappointed. I wanted to like this more than I did, and by that I mean I wanted it to leave me shattered the way The Bell Jar did, to keep feeling it over the next few weeks, to consider picking it up again, but then remembering what a mess it made me.

There were moments in this collection, but overall for me it was just 'okay'. I liked it, but not enough to go back to it.

This collection was written as an expose (read:revenge) of her time during/after her husband's affair; the originally publication was managed/edited by her spouse, who took several creative liberties in removing some scathing material, a sort of revenge-on-the-revenge.

It was basically a literary war, with one side having the advantage of being the able to rewrite the scenario posthumously. This version doesn't take sides, but presents both and lets the reader decide.

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Created Nov 30, 2019 at 10:16am • Submit your own review...