Since her suicide at age thirty, Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) has been celebrated for her impeccable and ruthless poetry, which excels at describing the most extreme reaches of Plath's consciousness and passions. Her work includes the autobiographical novel,
The Bell Jar,and such collections as
The Collosus, Ariel,and the Pulitzer Prize -- winning
Collected Poems.Based on exclusive interviews and extensive archival research,
Rough Magicprobes the events of Plath's life -- including her turbulent marriage to the English poet Ted Hughes -- in a biography that stands alone in its compassionate view of this fiercely talented, deeply troubled artist.
Teacher and journalistPaul Alexanderis the editor ofAriel Ascending, a collection of essays about Sylvia Plath, as well as books on James Dean and Andy Warhol. He lives in New York City, where he is at work on a book about J. D. Salinger.