The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The novel follows the story of a young woman who wins a guest editorship at a magazine in New York City and, after a series of personal and professional disappointments, suffers a mental breakdown and returns to her family, where she continues to struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. The protagonist's experiences in psychiatric institutions and her attempts to reclaim her life are depicted with brutal honesty, making it a poignant exploration of mental illness and the societal pressures faced by women in the mid-20th century.
The 91st greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1963
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 200-300
- Words
- 84,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 26th on The 50 best books of the past 100 years (The Times)
- 47th on 50 Classics You Must Read Before You Die (Gyldendal (Denmark Publisher))
- 49th on Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books (Harvard Book Store)
- 57th on Waterstone's Books of the Century (LibraryThing)
- 81st on Koen Book Distributors Top 100 Books of the Past Century (themodernnovel.com)
- 102nd on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 160th on The Complete 500: OCLC (OCLC)
- 50 Books to Read Before You Die (Barnes and Noble)
- 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- 100 Novels That Shaped Our World (BBC)
- The 75 Best Books of the Past 75 Years (Parade Magazine)
- #ThisBook (#ThisBook)
- 50 Best Cult Books (Telegraph)
- 500 Great Books by Women (Book)
- The Great American Novels (The Atlantic)
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- 75 Books by Women Whose Words Have Changed the World (Women's National Book Association)
- 100 Great 20th Century English-language Works of Fiction by Women (Feminista!)
- 87 Books Written by Women That Are So Good, You Won't Be Able to Put Them Down (Pop Sugar)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)
- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers (The College Board, an American not-for-profit organization)
- The 50 Books Everyone Needs to Read, 1963-2013 (Flavor Wire)
- The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993 (Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com)
- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books (Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com)
- The Graphic Canon (Book)
- 40 Essential Feminist Books to Read for Women's History Month (Harpers Bazaar)