After Sylvia: Poems and essays in celebration of Sylvia Palth

by Ian Humphreys (Editor), Sarah Corbett (Editor)

After Sylvia is an anthology of new writing celebrating the work and legacy of Sylvia Plath. Published by Nine Arches Press in October 2022, the book honours the 90th anniversary of Plath’s birth through a range of compelling poems and thought-provoking essays by leading and up-and-coming poets and scholars from the UK and beyond.

After Sylvia is shaped around five inspiring chapters, each exploring a key Plathian theme: Nature, Rebirth, Womanhood, Mothers & Fathers and Magic. Co-edited by Ian Humphreys and Sarah Corbett, contributors include Mona Arshi, Emily Berry, Mary Jean Chan, Heather Clark, Pascale Petit and Jacob Polley.

This vital anthology sets out to help dispel the myth of Sylvia Plath as tortured genius destined to her fate, by expressing the power and complexity of her work, legacy and reputation as one of the most important and influential writers of the 20th century.

Full list of contributors:

Moniza Alvi, Romalyn Ante, Mona Arshi, Polly Atkin, Tiffany Atkinson, Sally Baker, Colin Bancroft, Emily Berry, Nina Billard Sarmadi, Caroline Bird, Sharon Black, David Borrott, Mary Jean Chan, Heather Clark, Angela Cleland, Jane Commane, Sarah Corbett, Jonah Corren, Gail Crowther, Mari Ellis Dunning, Samatar Elmi, Ruth Fainlight, Daniel Fraser, Rosie Garland, Victoria Gatehouse, Rebecca Goss, Annie Hayter, Gaia Holmes, Ian Humphreys, Julie Irigaray, Bhanu Kapil, Victoria Kennefick, Martin Kratz, Zaffar Kunial, Jennifer Lee Tsai, Carola Luther, Karen McCarthy Woolf, Roy McFarlane, Nina Mingya Powles, Mark Pajak, Caleb Parkin, Pascale Petit, Jacob Polley, Niamh Prior, Shivanee Ramlochan, Clara Rosarius, Devina Shah, Penelope Shuttle, Jean Sprackland, Laura Stanley, Paul Stephenson, Degna Stone, Dorka Tamás, Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Peter Wallis, Tom Weir, Sarah Westcott, Merrie Joy Williams, Sarah Wimbush, Tamar Yoseloff.

Genres: Poetry

142 pages, Unknown Binding

Published October 20, 2022

Reviews

[Grace Usleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to The Poetry Society for awarding me this copy!*

WOW! What an incredible look into the many ways Plath has and continues to inspire the current generation of poets and writers. The poetry included here is absolutely stunning, and the essays are extremely fascinating. Touching on motherhood, magic, rebirth, as well as Plath’s love for fashion and the reality of her not-so-subliminal racism. This collection not only demonstrates the far reaches of Plath’s influence— it also shows us HOW to read Plath, the meaning behind her references of bees, witchcraft, feminine rage, and what it means to read her writing in the modern day.

Immeasurably captivating. Very honored to have received this.

[AnotherBookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sylvia Plath remains a touchstone for many writers. Here, 60 established and emerging poets including Kunial, Pascale Petit and Mona Arshi celebrate Plath’s influence on them despite, as Corbett says in her introduction, it not being easy to write after her. Karen McCarthy Woolf’s Ariel is one effort that jumps out, combining precision, delicacy and rage. Contributors don’t shy away from parts of Plath’s work that are problematic, such as Degna Stone’s essay on her use of racist language. Ultimately the anthology will send you back to the poems, the best kind of tribute. As Emily Berry puts it in Last Poem, “And everything / you wrote is alive”.