The Bell Jar
by Sylvia Plath
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One of The Atlantic's Great American Novels
"A coming-of-age masterpiece." --Boston Globe
"It is this perfectly wrought prose and the freshness of Plath's voice in The Bell Jar that make this book enduring in its appeal." --USA Today
A beautifully designed Harper Perennial Deluxe Edition of Sylvia Plath's masterwork--an acclaimed and enduring novel about a young woman falling into the grip of mental illness and societal pressures
The story chronicles the breakdown of Esther Greenwood, a bright, beautiful, enormously talented college student coming of age in 1950s America, as she navigates the pressures of society along with her own ambitions. While at a prestigious, competitively won position at a New York City magazine one summer, Esther finds herself struggling with the looming expectations of marriage, motherhood, and giving up on her dreams to achieve them. She becomes increasingly disillusioned and her mental health deteriorates, ultimately leading her to undergo harsh treatment and therapy.
"Funny, intense, enormously human" (Cosmopolitan), The Bell Jar is a poignant exploration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche and remains an extraordinary accomplishment from one of the country's most luminous talents.
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9780061148514
- Binding
- Paperback
- Authors
- Sylvia Plath
- Publisher
- Harper Perennial
- Published Date
- June 11, 2013
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 288
- Physical Info
- 8.2 in L x 5.5 in W (0.6 lb)

Sylvia put words to feelings I have never been able to describe. This book was alarmingly relatable. I can’t believe I had gone this long without reading it.
I finally dove into "The Bell Jar" and it left me completely cold in the most profound way. The story handles Esther Greenwood’s internal descent with an honesty that feels entirely too close to the bone. What makes the reading experience so heavy is the inescapable knowledge of the reality behind the fiction; knowing that while Esther is given a window of survival at the end of these pages, Sylvia Plath herself was running out of time.The contrast between the glamorous, fast-paced 1950s New York setting and the absolute isolation of Esther's mind cuts like a knife. The writing is beautiful and intentional; it builds an atmosphere so heavy that it physically shifts the air in the room while you read.The Aftermath 🌷I gave this four stars upon my first pass. It is a brilliant story that demands your full attention and leaves you completely reeling long after the final page.I loved this experience so much that after originally checking it out from Libby, through my local public library, I had to purchase a hard copy for my shelf. 🤍🕊️
My grandson needed this book for a school essay. I found it for him on Amazon with same day delivery . We were both very pleased with the book and the delivery.
Arrived in excellent condition, as advertised. I read this before years ago and loved it...just wanted to reread and add to my collection.
Good read. Just as interesting as when I read it 48 years ago, just different cover.
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