Newsletter 1
Hello from the Sylvia Plath Society!
This week we have begun our launch and there has been an overwhelming response – we knew Plath had dedicated fans, but we are thrilled to see how many people want to help her legacy by becoming involved in the Society. It’s very exciting to see this Society take shape because of our shared dedication to Plath.
We have created a questionnaire in which you can tell us what you want from the Sylvia Plath Society. Filling this in will help us move forwards by letting us know what our focus should be and how we can best celebrate Plath’s life, work and influence – you can find it here. Many people, too, have expressed a wish to volunteer or get involved, and we welcome this! You should always feel free to contact us with comments, questions or suggestions by email at plathsoc@gmail.com or on twitter, where our handle is @plath_society, and we will shortly be emailing those people who have expressed an interest in helping us set up the society.
Plath in the Media
This week has seen Plath’s influence recognised by the BBC, where her novel ‘The Bell Jar’ has been included in their list of the 100 most influential English-language novels. They have placed it in their ‘identity’ section alongside works by Toni Morrison and Andrea Levy.
Mohammed Al-Mosaiwi, an academic at the University of Reading, is hoping that his work on language and depression will become a tool to help sufferers. By analysing Plath, as well as fellow avid diarist Kurt Cobain and online forums, Al-Mosaiwi is isolating the language used by depressed people. Read more about his findings here.
The Lilly Library in Indiana, which holds a major Plath archive, is now closed for renovations until roughly 2021. Staff will continue to work with researchers, and visitors hoping to see their extensive Plath collection should contact liblilly@indiana.edu.
Listen to the 360 podcast discussing ‘The Bell Jar’ as a New York novel, delving into Plath’s relationship with the city.
The Galway Advertiser is publishing the story of Sylvia Plath’s visit to Connemara from the perspective of Richard Murphy, the poet that she stayed with. The piece has been serialised, and we currently have access to parts one, two, three and four.
Read an excerpt from Malcolm Gladwell’s most recent book, ‘Talking to Strangers’, which discusses Plath’s final days.
Italian-speaking Plath fans may enjoy this radio programme about Plath, part of a series about poets’ relationships with religion; and for the Hungarian-speakers among us, there is this new collection of essays to read.
Artists to Discover
The Sylvia Plath Society is dedicated to promoting artists working in all mediums who find inspiration in Plath’s poetry, drawings or image.
Arlo Parks, a London-based musician, is trying to infuse her work with a dreamlike sensibility inspired by, among other things, Plath’s work. Her EP ‘Sophie’ is reviewed here.
Fashion designer Lisette Lux uses the text of Plath’s poem ‘Mad Girl’s Love Song’ on a dress. Find her boutique in Woodstock, upstate New York.
Artist Sophie Diao discusses how she created the Sylvia Plath Google Doodle, which celebrated Plath’s birthday on October 27th of this year. You can also read the criticisms of Diao’s image, which suggest it does not accurately convey the depth of Plath’s work.
Until next week, we hope you all “live, love, and say it well in good sentences,”
The Sylvia Plath Society