Here you are, Roger, the url is:
http://www30.brinkster.com/bbcnews/plathjournal1.html
not pleasant reading I'm afraid.
Best
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Collett" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 12:04 PM
Subject: Re: BBC text re Plath Journals
Douglas
Where did you find this reference please?
Roger.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Douglas Clark" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 9:52 AM
Subject: BBC text re Plath Journals
Unpublished Sylvia Plath Journals Appear
A set of unpublished journals written by the late poet Sylvia Plath -
including one kept until to the day of her suicide - has been acquired
by the British Library.
The journals were donated by Ann Skea literary critic, biographer and
friend of Ted Hughes - husband of the late poet.
"These revelations are explosive and will cast a long dark shadow over
the reputation of poet laureate Ted Hughes " said A. Alvarez.
Sylvia Plath and husband Ted Hughes Sylvia Plath and husband Ted
Hughes in happier times
In an extract from the journal, Plath recounts a vitriolic meeting
between her and Ted Hughes the weekend before she ended her life.
Plath states that Ted had told her, that his mistress Assia Wevill was
pregnant with his child and there never could be a reconciliation
between him and Sylvia. "Why don't you finish what you attempted ten
years ago and leave us in peace " Hughes is quoted as saying.
Hughes had always maintained that he had destroyed her final journal
in order to spare his children and had lost or misplaced another of
her journals.
"The only one he wanted to spare, was himself and the wrath of an
accusing public."said Ronald Hayman, a Plath biographer.
This long and important series of journal entries, written out in
Sylvia's dramatically vigorous hand, gives us an exceptionally direct
insight into her tragic death.
Chris Fletcher, British Library
Shortly before his death in October 1998, Ted Hughes entrusted the
remaining journals to his long time friend Ann Skea with the
stipulation that they not be made public until after the death of his
sister Olwyn Hughes .
"I think it is time to have the whole truth known regardless of who
will be offended," said Anne Skea,"Ted Hughes was not a saint and had
many flaws and he did regret his harsh words and statements to his
wife prior to her death."
These heartrendering final journals are not for the faint of heart and
will leave many Plath fans shocked and saddened.
Other entries include descriptions of a trip to Ireland and a chilling
one written one week before her death in which she debated ending her
childrens lives along with hers.
Chris Fletcher, curator of modern literary manuscripts at the British
Library, where the collection will eventually go on public display,
enthusiastically welcomed the donation.
"This long and important series of letters, written out in Plaths'
dramatically vigorous hand, gives us an exceptionally direct insight
into the complex mind of one of the most creative, charismatic and
popular national literary figures of the post-war world," he said.
Control Of Literary Estate ?
Another explosive revelation is that Sylvia Plath had intended that
her mother be the executor of her will. Though she had started divorce
proceedings, she was still married when she died and Ted was left in
control of her literary estate.
"The journal clearly states that she had made a will" said A. Alvarez.
Whether that would have made a difference under the Kings Law is open
for conjecture.
Many feminists and admirers of Plath hold Hughes responsible for his
wife's suicide, accusing him of abandoning her for another woman at a
time when she was emotionally unstable, and these new unpublished
journals will go a long way in confirming that view.
Sylvia's Plath's suicide in 1963 at the age of 30 made her an
international bestseller, a cult figure, a martyr of the feminist
movement, a posthumous Pulitzer Prize winner and the subject of at
least 104 books. If she hasn't yet reached the status of full-blown
cultural icon, she probably will when the movie about her life
starring Gwyneth Paltrow comes out.
See also:
29 Oct 98 | UK
Quiet man of intense verse 28 Jul 00 | UK
Plaques to the wall 17 Jan 98 | UK
Hughes breaks silence over Plath 29 Oct 98 | Entertainment
Extracts from Hughes' Birthday Letters 13 May 99 | Entertainment
Ted Hughes: 'A born poet' remembered 11 Jan 99 | Entertainment
Hughes wins TS Eliot poetry prize 03 Nov 98 | UK
Emotional farewell to Ted Hughes
Internet links:
Ted Hughes - unofficial siteSylvia Plath linksThe British Library
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Top Arts stories now:
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Links to more Arts stories are at the foot of the page.
Links to more Arts stories
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