About this book
The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Sylvia Plath, published in 1963. It tells the story of Esther Greenwood, a talented and ambitious young woman who struggles with mental illness and societal pressures in the 1950s.
The Bell Jar is a powerful and poignant portrayal of mental health and the pressures faced by young women. Plath's use of language and imagery captures the complexities of Esther's inner world, making the novel a powerful exploration of the human condition.
It’s Plath’s only novel, and the book is often regarded as a roman à clef due to its parallelism with the author’s own experiences and her struggle with mental illness. Plath committed suicide a month after The Bell Jar was first published.
First line
IT WAS A QUEER, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.
First Edition Identification
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath first edition was published by William Simmonds; London, 1963. It was bound black cloth-affect boards with spine lettered. Plath originally published it under the pseudonym "Victoria Lucas". The first edition pictorial dust-jacket was designed by Thomas Simmonds.
Details
- Title The Bell Jar
- Author Sylvia Plath
- Binding Mass Market Paperbound
- Edition Later Printing
- Pages 216
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Bantam, New York
- Date July 1, 1983
- ISBN 9780553260083 / 0553260081
- Weight 0.35 lbs (0.16 kg)
- Ages 14 to 18 years
- Grade levels 9 - 13
- Reading level 1050
- Dewey Decimal Code FIC
More Copies for Sale
Bell Jar
by Sylvia Plath; Lois Ames [Preface]
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780553260083 / 0553260081
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Boonsboro, Maryland, United States
- Item Price
-
A$20.50A$7.73 shipping to USA
Show Details
Bell Jar
by Plath, Sylvia
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good with no dust jacket
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780553260083 / 0553260081
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
A$23.24A$12.40 shipping to USA
Show Details
Bell Jar
by Sylvia Plath
- Used
- Condition
- Used: Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780553260083 / 0553260081
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
A$24.37FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Bell Jar
by Sylvia Plath; Lois Ames [Preface]
- New
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780553260083 / 0553260081
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
San Diego, California, United States
- Item Price
-
A$165.15A$8.44 shipping to USA