In case you missed it, there were two interviews posted today on The Guardian's website on the topic of Sylvia Plath and The Bell Jar. The first interview was with Plath's good friend Elizabeth Sigmund; the second with the polar opposite, Olwyn Hughes.
Both of these women had a particular relationship to Sylvia Plath and the nature of that relationship shines through quite blindingly. The story came about largely as the result of the Faber edition of Plath's novel, which was first published under Plath's name in 1966. In this edition, and subsequent paperback editions and reprints, the dedication "for Elizabeth and David" was not included (it was included in the 1971 Harper & Row American edition and so far as I know and have looked has never been absent. The missing dedication was the subject of a 1973 TLS article by Elizabeth, which prompted an apology by Faber's Charles Monteith and a rectification of the oversight (Monteith was the recipient, himself, of what would become a rare signed copy of Plath's first poetry collection, The Colossus, published by Heinemann in 1960) .
The interviews were part of The Guardian's Reading Group which is featuring and focusing on The Bell Jar this month, moderated by Sam Jordison. Olwyn Hughes fairly goes off on her late sister-in-law while also making incendiary comments about Elizabeth Sigmund. In the past, Olwyn Hughes has commented that Plath and Hughes had met - at most - a half dozen times. This might be hyperbole. But one thing to also consider is the number of times that Olwyn, herself, was in Plath's presence, which can't have been much more.
What it comes down to is the fact that Olwyn Hughes was tasked by her brother to be the keep of Plath's literary fame. However, in her role as literary executor she failed miserably to conduct herself professionally, dispassionately, and objectively. What it further boils down to is that as her friend, Elizabeth Sigmund has behaved respectfully and with much admiration. This goes beyond to which camp you belong. Indeed, the camp boundaries have been blurring in recent years which is wonderful. These articles/interviews serve primarily to get web hits, sell newspapers, and pick open the healing scabs of old wounds and steps away from what should be a celebration of Sylvia Plath's novel that leads to a celebration of her life. I perhaps now fear what is coming down the pike as we approach 11 February.
Something else to consider this weekend...
Are you, too, chomping and desperate to get your hands on Andrew Wilson's biography Mad Girl's Love Song: Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted? Well, we will get a bit of a taster this weekend as part of a two-week serialization in London's Mail on Sunday. Starting Sunday! And, I am told, at some point also The Observer will feature the book. Read on.
More on Wilson's book on Sunday...
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| 1963 Heinemann edition with dedication present |
The interviews were part of The Guardian's Reading Group which is featuring and focusing on The Bell Jar this month, moderated by Sam Jordison. Olwyn Hughes fairly goes off on her late sister-in-law while also making incendiary comments about Elizabeth Sigmund. In the past, Olwyn Hughes has commented that Plath and Hughes had met - at most - a half dozen times. This might be hyperbole. But one thing to also consider is the number of times that Olwyn, herself, was in Plath's presence, which can't have been much more.
What it comes down to is the fact that Olwyn Hughes was tasked by her brother to be the keep of Plath's literary fame. However, in her role as literary executor she failed miserably to conduct herself professionally, dispassionately, and objectively. What it further boils down to is that as her friend, Elizabeth Sigmund has behaved respectfully and with much admiration. This goes beyond to which camp you belong. Indeed, the camp boundaries have been blurring in recent years which is wonderful. These articles/interviews serve primarily to get web hits, sell newspapers, and pick open the healing scabs of old wounds and steps away from what should be a celebration of Sylvia Plath's novel that leads to a celebration of her life. I perhaps now fear what is coming down the pike as we approach 11 February.
Something else to consider this weekend...
Are you, too, chomping and desperate to get your hands on Andrew Wilson's biography Mad Girl's Love Song: Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted? Well, we will get a bit of a taster this weekend as part of a two-week serialization in London's Mail on Sunday. Starting Sunday! And, I am told, at some point also The Observer will feature the book. Read on.
More on Wilson's book on Sunday...
I do like to see two women in their 80s deying little old lady stereotypes...
ReplyDeleteCath
The different photos of Plath that accompany the texts of each interview are telling. OH's includes the stock photo of Plath looking dowdy and distracted by her own disquietude. ES's has coy, affable, attractive Plath. I've always wondered why the former photo is the image most commonly associated with Plath. I'm only a neophyte, but I think she would not have been pleased by it. And it perpetuates the image of Plath as the disturbed girl that OH would have us remember her as.
ReplyDeleteMaura
Maura, Thank you for your comment. I too noticed the photographs that accompanied each article. The ironic thing, perhaps, is that the photo of the intense-looking Plath in the Sigmund interview was taken by Olwyn Hughes!
ReplyDeletePlease do not let the possibility that you are a neophyte dissuade you from being a part of this blog's little community. All, well, most, are welcome!
pks
It's interesting that these stereotypes of Plath are being resurrected. Particularly as the scholarship on Plath has changed so much over the past few years and we have been able to see so many versions of Plath and hear different parts of her story.
ReplyDeletePKS: Thank you for the kind welcome. Do you have any insight as to how the photo that's used in OH's interview became the file photo for Plath? As for the other, more flattering photo, ironic indeed!
ReplyDeleteMaura
Maura! Hi there. No, I'm not really sure. The two photos in these articles are the stock photos. The 1959 one that was in the Olwyn Hughes interview was taken by Rollie McKenna and I think it is used partially because her Estate is OK with it, and partially because I think she looks sad. Her eyes are downcast, and this fits the easy-way-out reputation that Plath has in popular culture.
ReplyDeleteThe 1956-ish photograph of Plath taken by Olwyn Hughes is glorious. I love it; it is among my favorite images of Plath. But, it's one of at least two pictures from that day. The other picture is brighter, slightly out of focus, and shows Plath radiantly smiling. It was printed in one of the biographies. Bitter Fame perhaps?
pks
Thanks for your response, Peter! Interesting stuff and, I agree, the photo taken by OH really is glorious.
ReplyDeleteMaura