Sylvia Plath fue una poeta, novelista y cuentista estadounidense, celebrada principalmente por su poesía. Su obra a menudo profundiza en estados internos complejos y dramas psicológicos. Plath exploró temas de identidad, trauma y la experiencia femenina con una honestidad penetrante. Su estilo se caracteriza por imágenes intensas y una poderosa resonancia emocional, que atrae a los lectores a las profundidades de la psique humana.
Sylvia Plath siempre apunta al corazón. Tres mujeres es un emocionante poema a tres voces que tiene como tema central la maternidad. Cada voz representa una forma de vivirla: la mujer que centra su realización en ser madre, la que sufre por no poder serlo y la que lo es a su pesar. Sylvia concibió este poema, feminista y antibelicista, para ser leído en voz alta, y en 1962, un año antes de su muerte, lo leyó en la BBC. La experiencia supuso un cambio de dirección en su forma de afrontar la escritura. Desde entonces concebiría los poemas «en voz alta», cambiando de forma definitiva su técnica poética.
Publicado póstumamente en 1964, este es el último poemario de Sylvia Plath y llegó envuelto en una cierta polémica, pues su marido, Ted Hughes, editó el manuscrito original suprimiendo o añadiendo algunos poemas. Esto dividió a la crítica entre los que lo consideraban una intromisión y los que entendían que Hughes y Plath solían colaborar. Finalmente, en 2004, salió a la luz la edición íntegra de Ariel que ahora presentamos, con la selección y organización original de los poemas, en edición ilustrada. Esta obra es una brillante muestra del estilo poético de la gran escritora estadounidense, de versos alternativamente brutales y suaves, cortantes y acariciadores.
Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) was a defining figure in twentieth-century poetry, and her vivid, complex work continues to resonate with new generations. In this collection of her letters, much of which is previously unpublished, Plath's unaltered voice shines through, offering candid insights into her personal life. Her correspondence is playful and engaging, addressing family, friends, and professional contacts with her characteristic wit. The letters trace Plath's remarkable literary journey, revealing the origins of her poems, fiction, and journalism. Despite mixed receptions to her work, she remained committed to her creative vision, navigating both acceptance and rejection. A well-read and curious observer, Plath provides intriguing commentary on contemporary culture. Editors Peter K. Steinberg and Karen V. Kukil, renowned Plath scholars, include comprehensive footnotes and an extensive index based on thorough research. Accompanied by photographs and Plath's own drawings, they expertly contextualize the correspondence. This selection highlights pivotal moments in Plath's adolescence, her turbulent undergraduate years at Smith College, her move to England and Cambridge University, and her relationship with Ted Hughes, including a wealth of unseen letters that illuminate their extraordinary creative partnership.
The collection showcases the powerful and poignant verse of a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, known for her intense emotional depth and artistic brilliance. Through brutally honest self-exploration, the poems—such as "Lady Lazarus" and "Daddy"—reflect personal tragedy while resonating with universal themes. Plath's work continues to shape contemporary poetry, leaving a lasting impact with its raw intensity and vivid imagery.
Sylvia Plath's letters, primarily to her mother, span from her time at Smith College in the early 1950s to her suicide in 1963. They reveal her ability for both domestic joy and literary fulfillment, while also hinting at her profound despair.
Upon the publication of her posthumous volume of poetry Ariel in 1965, Sylvia
Plath became a household name. Readers may be surprised to learn that the
draft of Ariel left behind by Plath when she died in 1963 is different from
the volume of poetry eventually published to worldwide acclaim. This is a
facsimile edition of her original draft.
