The Bell Jar

by Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Literary Fiction
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Format • £8.54–£9.49
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Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £14.99–£16.99
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Technical
  • ID: 5511
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • ISBN: 9780571226160
  • Publisher: Faber & Faber Children's Books
  • Published: 2005-01-01
  • Formats: 7
  • Reviews: 3

Esther Greenwood, a young woman from the suburbs of Boston, wins an internship at a prestigious New York fashion magazine in 1953. Initially thrilled, she quickly finds the glamorous world of publishing to be hollow and unfulfilling. As she struggles with her mental health, Esther's life begins to unravel, leading her into a deep depression that she battles against the backdrop of societal expectations and personal turmoil. /n/n The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath's only novel, was originally published in 1963 under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas. The novel is partially based on Plath's own life and descent into mental illness, and has become a modern classic, known for its candid portrayal of depression and the pressures faced by young women in the 1950s.

Reviews
Julia's Books · Julia · 2023-04-06
intimate 4.50

The review praises the intimate and personal nature of the book, highlighting Plath's ability to draw readers into the character's state of mind.

Julia appreciates the painfully intimate nature of 'The Bell Jar', noting how Plath's writing draws readers into the character's state of mind. She emphasizes the unique perspective through which all other characters are seen, making the narrative deeply personal and engaging. Julia also highlights the book's relevance and its ability to resonate with readers, particularly those who have experienced similar struggles.

Quick quotes

    The Bell Jar is a painfully intimate book.

    Plath draws you into her character's state of mind and all the other characters are seen entirely through her eyes.

    The writing in this book is, first of all, beautiful.

The Word Wolf · 2021-12-08
disturbing 4.25

The review discusses the metaphor of the bell jar and its significance in the narrative, highlighting the sense of entrapment and isolation.

The reviewer explores the metaphor of the bell jar, noting its significance in conveying a sense of entrapment and isolation. They appreciate how this metaphor works on multiple levels, creating a powerful and disturbing narrative. The review also touches on the book's relevance and its ability to resonate with readers, particularly those who have experienced similar struggles.

Quick quotes

    Esther feels as though she is living underneath a bell jar, and this works for me on a number of levels.

    It's a raw, unsettling book with flashes of brilliance, a roman à clef that's also a long, tormented footnote to Plath's tormented poetry.

    The Bell Jar is a remarkably interesting novel, despite its age.

The Guardian · 2015-10-27
brilliant 4.00

The review highlights the autobiographical elements of the book and its impact on readers. It emphasizes the raw and unsettling nature of the narrative.

The reviewer discusses how 'The Bell Jar' offers a deeply personal and autobiographical glimpse into Sylvia Plath's life. They note that the book's raw and unsettling narrative is both brilliant and disturbing, making it a significant piece of literature. The review also touches on the book's relevance and its ability to resonate with readers, particularly those who have experienced similar struggles.

Quick quotes

    The Bell Jar is the story of Esther, it's sort of a autobiographical but not all autobiographical book about a certain part of Sylvia's life.

    It's a raw, unsettling book with flashes of brilliance, a roman à clef that's also a long, tormented footnote to Plath's tormented poetry.

    Esther Greenwood's account of her year in the bell jar is as clear and readable as it is witty and disturbing.

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