A bright young woman’s summer in New York turns into a struggle with her own mind
What it is about
Esther Greenwood wins a summer internship at a New York magazine in 1953, but the glamour feels hollow and her mood darkens. The novel follows her slide into a mental health crisis and her long road back. It is Plath’s only novel.
Who will enjoy it
Readers who like literary novels about identity and mental health, written in a distinctive voice.
What you will get
A short, powerful classic. It deals with depression and suicide, so it may be heavy for some readers.
Behind the book
It was first published in January 1963 under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas; Plath’s own name appeared on later editions.
Source: Wikipedia
The Bell Jar Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Literary Fiction · Identity · Pressure · Womanhood
Length
244 pages · ≈ 7 h
More about this book
Characters
Esther Greenwood, who narrates.
Setting
New York and the suburbs of Boston in the 1950s.
What makes it different
It draws on the author’s own life, in a sharp, ironic voice.
Feel
Dark, honest and often darkly funny.
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