THE BELL JAR

A modern classic. Guardian A near-perfect work of art. Joyce Carol Oates Sylvia Plath is a major cultural icon who continues to inspire new generations of female readers. The Bell Jar is one of the defining novels of the 20th century. I was supposed to be having the time of my life . . . Working as an intern for a New York fashion magazine in the summer of 1953, Esther Greenwood is on the brink of her future. Yet she is also on the edge of a darkness that makes her world increasingly unreal. Esther s vision of the world shimmers and shifts: day-to-day living in the sultry city, her crazed men-friends, the hot dinner dances . . . The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath s only novel, is partially based on Plath s own life. It has been celebrated for its darkly funny and razor sharp portrait of 1950s society, and has sold millions of copies worldwide. ONE OF THE BBC S 100 NOVELS THAT SHAPED OUR WORLD As clear and readable as it is witty and disturbing. New York Times Book Review Reader responses: Very readable, often darkly funny, and feels fresh. Plath s masterpiece . . . It s amazing how relevant this book still is. So enthralling . . . So thought provoking, so vivid, that it s thoroughly engrossing. I just couldn t put it down. Ever better than I expected. Plath s underrated humour shines through this startling account of 1950s normality .