The new British Library Spoken Word CD Sylvia Plath is garnering much interest.
- Concurrently, the British Library have announced the acquisition of Ted Hughes' copy of the Saint Botolph's Review, complete with wine stains from a Luke Myers bicycling accident! The news first appeared via the Herald de Paris in their article "Library Acquires Stained Ted Hughes Journal." This timing of this acquisition, which they've known about for sometime, is likely intentional as the Spoken Word CD includes Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes in conversation discussing their lives together, how they met, etc.. How they met is the stuff of legend, captured with rapture by Plath in her journal the morning after.
- The Independent's article "The Poetry of Courtship: Plath and Hughes Caught on Tape" by Jonathan Browne is a little uneven (they had been married nearly five years when the recording of "Two of a Kind" was made). The title of the article itself is a cheap trick, and connoting their conversation with Owen Leeming to some kind of a sordid, illicit privately made video that leaks onto the net. But, I guess they have to sell the paper...
- Helen Broderick, one of the archivists I envy the most, was charged with bringing order to the Ted Hughes papers acquired by the British Library in 2008, updates her Ted Hughes Archive Blog.
- The BBC also seems to have focused on the "Rare Ted Hughes Journal Acquired by British Library" angle. I can't blame them, it's pretty fascinating and I suspect we all have a bit of a fantasy or even fetish about this issue and the party and the meeting. At least I've got a bit of a facination about the Saint Botolph's Review.
- Likewise, Laura Davis at the Liverpood Daily Post writes of "Ted Hughes Journal Acquired by British Library." This article seems to have completely missed the CD.
- And this all stems from a British Library Press Release: "Saint Botolph’s Review: ‘an overture to the night and the party’ where Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath first met."
- The Guardian contributes "Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes Talk About Their Relationship," which is a nearly two minute clip from "Two of a Kind."
- Also, Alison Flood at The Guardian authors, "British Library Archive Throws Light on Hughes-Plath Romance."
NEW LINKS - Marco Werman discusses the new Plath CD with Smith College's Karen V. Kukil on PRI (Public Radio International) (A Curious Note: PRI which was the telephone exchange for Plath and Hughes's flat at 3 Chalcot Square. Their number was PRImrose 9132.)
- Lovereading.co.uk ran an article on Friday, "Ted Hughes Archive of Works Completed" by Jade Caulfield. While mostly about the British Library archive of Hughes, the CD is mentioned.