As a Plath superfan since adolescence, I was drawn to this book and am so grateful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to get an early peek at it.

I have read many of the biographies cited in this book, and found it to be a compelling addition to the Plath catalog. My concern was that it might offer a simple rehashing of what has already been written. However, it is ultimately (and most importantly) a critical examination of the scholarship done thus far, particularly regarding the choices various biographers have made when it comes to the intimate partner violence between Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. IPV is the filter through which Van Duyne examines Sylvia's life, work, and death. It was fascinating to see how scholars have protected the myth of Hughes at Plath's expense. The distillation of Plath's life to her tragic demise has always bothered me, and this book goes a long way in taking a more holistic look at her life and work as well as the culpability that not only Hughes but his apologists bear.

I received this as a digital galley from NetGalley.

One of the things I loved about this new work of scholarship about Sylvia Plath was the reconsideration of previous scholarship (good & bad).

Also fuck Ted Hughes.

A feminist reimagining of Sylvia Plath's final years leading up to her suicide. What did she suffer to end up this way? What toll did her life take? Fans of Sylvia Plath will want to read this tale to get to know Sylvia's last years and to try to understand the oft slandered "literary sad Gil" from a new perspective.

As someone who reads everything going on Plath, l appreciated this new perspective. A thoughtful, reflective work that also veers into the author’s own life and is unashamed in its passion for its subject.
My only reservation is that while the author thoroughly pursues the IDV angle, there is no attempt to engage with the possibility of BDSM in the marriage, which l would have thought necessary, if only to dismiss.

A really interesting look at the life of Sylvia Plath by an author who loves her writing and also experienced violence at the ends of her partner. Through looking at what Plath said in her work and words, and what was suppressed, and the difficulties in writing biographies about her, the book presents lots of information on interpersonal violence, the ways women are silenced and much more. I particularly appreciated the chapter on Assia Wevill as it appears to me she is even more misrepresented, such a sad story. A book I found hard to put down (probably because of my own interests in death, mental illness, feminism etc)

I was always interested in learning more about the intriguing, sad, and unbelievable life of Sylvia Platt. I really liked the way Emily incorporated her story and it kept me interested and wanting to know more. Very interesting take on one of literary most iconic figures.