Sylvia Plath Reads Her Poetry

by Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath born on October 27, 1932, in Boston, MA, was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer. She is credited with advancing the genre of confessional poetry and is best known for two of her published collections, The Colossus and Other Poems (1960) and Ariel (1965), and also The Bell Jar, a semi-autobiographical novel published shortly before her suicide on February 11, 1963. In this recording, Plath reads "Black Rook in Rainy Weather," "A Secret, Stopped Dead," "A Birthday Present," "November Graveyard," "Medusa," "The Disquieting Muses," "The Stones," and "Cut."

Genres: Poetry

Audible Audio

Published April 3, 2025

About the author

Sylvia Plath was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer, widely regarded as one of the most influential and emotionally powerful authors of the 20th century. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she demonstrated literary talent from an early age, publishing her first poem at the age of eight. Her early life was shaped by the death of her father, Otto Plath, when she was eight years old, a trauma that would profoundly influence her later work.
Plath attended Smith College, where she excelled academically but also struggled privately with depression. In 1953, she survived a suicide attempt, an experience she later fictionalized in her semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar. After recovering, she earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study at Newnham College, Cambridge, in England. While there, she met and married English poet Ted Hughes in 1956. Their relationship was passionate but tumultuous, with tensions exacerbated by personal differences and Hughes's infidelities.
Throughout her life, Plath sought to balance her ambitions as a writer with the demands of marriage and motherhood. She had two children with Hughes, Frieda and Nicholas, and continued to write prolifically. In 1960, her first poetry collection, The Colossus and Other Poems, was published in the United Kingdom. Although it received modest critical attention at the time, it laid the foundation for her distinctive voice—intensely personal, often exploring themes of death, rebirth, and female identity.
Plath's marriage unraveled in 1962, leading to a period of intense emotional turmoil but also extraordinary creative output. Living with her two children in London, she wrote many of the poems that would posthumously form Ariel, the collection that would cement her literary legacy. These works, filled with striking imagery and raw emotional force, displayed her ability to turn personal suffering into powerful art. Poems like "Daddy" and "Lady Lazarus" remain among her most famous, celebrated for their fierce honesty and technical brilliance.
In early 1963, following a deepening depression, Plath died by suicide at the age of 30. Her death shocked the literary world and sparked a lasting fascination with her life and work. The posthumous publication of Ariel in 1965, edited by Hughes, introduced Plath's later poetry to a wide audience and established her as a major figure in modern literature. Her novel The Bell Jar was also published under her own name shortly after her death, having initially appeared under the pseudonym "Victoria Lucas."
Plath’s work is often classified within the genre of confessional poetry, a style that emphasizes personal and psychological experiences. Her fearless exploration of themes like mental illness, female oppression, and death has resonated with generations of readers and scholars. Over time, Plath has become a feminist icon, though her legacy is complex and occasionally controversial, especially in light of debates over Hughes's role in managing her literary estate and personal history.
Today, Sylvia Plath is remembered not only for her tragic personal story but also for her immense contributions to American and English literature. Her work continues to inspire writers, artists, and readers worldwide. Collections such as Ariel, Crossing the Water, and Winter Trees, as well as her journals and letters, offer deep insight into her creative mind. Sylvia Plath’s voice, marked by its intensity and emotional clarity, remains one of the most haunting and enduring in modern literature.

Reviews

[nmread · Rating 1 out of 5]

چرا اینقدر بد بود؟ اصلا انتظارشو نداشتم. فقط بیست دقیقه بود ولی نتونستم تحمل کنم و سر ده دقیقه رهاش کردم.

[David Kirlew-Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sylvia Plath is an iconic writer and when I saw there was an audiobook of her reading her poetry, I thought I'd give it a go. Only just over 20 minutes, so it's easy to fit into my day.

She has a distinct style which is different to many other poets I have read/listened to. Whilst this book shows it off, it is absolutely not a complete collection of her poetry. That would have made it more interesting.

Still, I heard enough to want to look into her work more.

[Anetq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well after reading The Slicks by Maggie Nelson - I kind of had to hear it from Plath herself - and I had this available. Plath sounds fed up with a lot of things, which tracks. Being a woman in the 1950s, I totally get that BTW. Her poem about De Chirico's painting "The Disquieting Muses" even comes with her own intro, well worth a listen.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing The Bell Jar, I listened to Plath read several of her poems. I can hear her now in The Bell Jar. Listen to this book if you want to hear her voice. Her words are keys to her sad life.

[Carrey 🍓 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short collection of Sylvia Plath’s poetry, made even more powerful by being read in her own voice. It’s a quick listen; (about 20 minutes); but deeply atmospheric, offering an intimate glimpse into her tone and emotion.

[Oleanderbat (Angie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing to hear Sylvia’s work in her own voice!