The Bildungsroman Project
coming-of-age since the 18th century
the bell jar
by sylvia plath
1963
Sylvia Plath's shatteringly original poetic voice graces just one novel. Released in the United Kingdom mere months before Plath committed suicide, The Bell Jar is the autobiographical tale of a young woman's early encounters with sexuality, independence, and her own mental illness. After her death, Plath's mother and husband stifled the novel's publication in the United States until 1971. The sensational nature of The Bell Jar's publication history continues to fuel controversy even after five decades in print.
