The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath, an American writer, and poet wrote just one novel, The Bell Jar. The work, which was first published in 1963 under the pseudonym "Victoria Lucas", is semi-autobiographical, with the names of locations and persons changed. The novel is sometimes seen as a roman a clef since the protagonist's journey into mental illness reflects Plath's own experiences with severe depression or bipolar II disorder. Plath committed suicide a month after the book's initial release in the United Kingdom. The work was initially published under Plath's name in 1967, but it was not released in the United States until 1971, against the desires of both Plath's husband, Ted Hughes, and her mother. The novel has been translated into almost a dozen languages.

The Bell Jar tells the story of Esther Greenwood, who is clever, beautiful, extremely skilled, and successful, but who is slowly collapsing—possibly for the final time. Sylvia Plath expertly takes the reader into Esther's collapse with such intensity that Esther's insanity appears utterly genuine and even sensible, as likely and approachable as going to the movies. Such in-depth exploration of the dark and terrifying recesses of the mind is an incredible achievement, and it has helped to establish The Bell Jar as a disturbing American classic.

Detailed information:
Author: Sylvia Plath
Link to read: goodreads.com/book/show/6514.The_Bell_Jar