This book, considering the subject matter, should have been enlightening. However, alas, it is merely highly repetitive.

Opening paragraphs that summarize what is to come might be suitable for high school essays, but they are not appropriate for every chapter of a literary work.

Just in case we missed it in the opening of the chapter, important dates and events are repeated. I believe the date of birth of Hughes's and Plath's son Nicholas was repeated four times.

This book definitely reads like a Cliff's Notes guide to Birthday Letters rather than a book that can provide any real insight into the poetry and the process of its creation.

It is advisable to just read Birthday Letters itself and a good biography of Plath and/or Hughes. (And it is best to avoid Bitter Fame. The pointless, petty character assassinations of a dead woman who cannot defend herself from the minor charges of - gasp - not accepting a recommendation for where to buy furniture or eating too much, which are published as appendices to the book, are an act of spitefulness, the purpose of which I cannot fathom.)

In Ariel's Gift, Erica Wagner constructs a detailed running commentary on the poems within Ted Hughes's Birthday Letters.

She draws upon Sylvia Plath's fiction, journals, and letters, as well as Hughes' scarce public statements following Plath's death, aiming to shed light on the poems.

I believe Wagner excels in exploring Hughes's perception of fate in the creation of their poems and the events that transpired.

Critics of Hughes might view the admissions of ignorance and helplessness in the Birthday Letters poems as attempts at blame-shifting and self-justification. However, the poems themselves vividly convey this ignorance and helplessness.

To truly engage with the poems, one must set aside judgment.

Wagner endeavors to be fair, yet it becomes evident in her book that she leans more towards Hughes.

The final chapter reveals the pain endured by the living (Hughes, the children, and Plath's mother Aurelia) when the deceased can still seemingly cry out from the grave.

Perhaps in response to the accusations of self-justification against Hughes, Wagner quotes Seamus Heaney's assessment of Plath's poetry.

In his lecture "The Indefatigable Hoof-taps," Heaney elucidates what he deems as her limitation.

Heaney states that while there is no poetic flaw in Plath's work, its dominant theme of self-discovery and self-definition may ultimately limit it.

Although this concern must be understood as a courageous and unwavering battle against the abyss of depression and suicide.

Heaney does not imply that the self is an inappropriate subject for poetry.

Rather, he believes that the greatest works emerge when a certain degree of self-forgetfulness is achieved or at least a fullness of self-possession that was denied to Sylvia Plath.

In "Lady Lazarus," for example, the cultural resonance of the original story is harnessed for a vehemently self-justifying purpose, causing the supra-personal dimensions of knowledge typically accessible through myth to be overlooked in favor of the poet's intense personal need.

If Birthday Letters is not a great book of poems due to the diminishing effect of self-justification, the same caveat must also apply to Plath's poetry.

Wish I could give 3.5 stars!

This is a common sentiment that many people have when they are trying to rate something. Sometimes, the available star ratings don't quite capture the true essence of our feelings.

Maybe the product or service was good in some aspects but had a few drawbacks. Or perhaps it was just average, not outstanding but also not terrible.

Giving 3.5 stars would be a more accurate reflection of our thoughts. It would show that we had a somewhat positive experience, but there was still room for improvement.

However, most rating systems only offer whole number options. This can be frustrating because it forces us to either round up or down, which may not be entirely fair.

In conclusion, while we may wish for the option to give 3.5 stars, we have to make do with the available choices. But it's important to remember that ratings are just one person's opinion and may not necessarily reflect the overall quality of something.

I generally avoid poetry. However, Sylvia Plath and her Bell Jar became my exception. In my youth, I wept for her tortured soul, her life that was cut short so tragically, and her poor motherless babies. Years later, when Birthday Letters was released, I devoured all the reviews I could lay my hands on. But out of a sense of principled allegiance to Sylvia, I stubbornly refused to read it myself, as if somehow willing Ted Hughes to suffer because I withheld my $16.95.

I'm truly glad to have discovered Ariel's Gift by Erica Wagner. Her exhaustive research is evident throughout the book. I deeply appreciate that she managed to avoid cluttering such a sadly beautiful work with footnotes. This book sent shivers down my spine. It felt suspenseful even though I was fully aware of what was coming.

Wagner does a phenomenal job presenting an even-handed commentary on this highly charged subject. She includes both praise and criticism. Thanks to this author, I now have a more peaceful regard for both Plath and Hughes and their combined brilliance. I still consider Sylvia Plath a hero, but I can see that her mental illness was a far greater villain to her than her husband ever was. I find myself wondering if she had been allowed to attend her father's funeral, would that have made a significant difference in her life?

I truly adored the manner in which the author seamlessly integrated biography and poetry.

It was a remarkable feat that allowed me to establish a profound connection with Plath.

As I delved deeper into the work, I couldn't help but feel an intense sense of closeness to her.

Her life experiences, as vividly portrayed through the combination of biography and poetry, seemed to resonate within me.

However, this newfound proximity also brought with it an element of unease.

I couldn't help but be freaked out by the raw emotions and the sometimes disturbing nature of Plath's story.

It was as if I was peeking into the darkest corners of her psyche, and it left me with a sense of both fascination and dread.

Overall, the author's integration of biography and poetry was a masterful achievement that left a lasting impression on me.

Wagner's partial biography of Plath and Hughes, as well as her commentary on Ted Hughes' Birthday Letters, is truly remarkable.

Her work is not only admirable but also deeply fascinating. The commentary she provides is extremely well thought out.

Although it may seem relatively slight when compared to some other books of this nature, there is actually a great deal of depth to be discovered within it.

This book is best read and savoured slowly, as there are numerous ideas that require careful consideration and chewing over.

By taking the time to engage with the text in this way, readers can gain a more profound understanding of the complex relationship between Plath and Hughes, as well as the significance of Hughes' work.

Wagner's contribution to the study of these two important literary figures is truly valuable and值得一读.

An excellent guide to Hughes' final collection offers valuable insights into not only the poems themselves but also their profound connection to his relationship with Plath and her work.

Hughes' final collection is a culmination of his artistic journey, and understanding its context requires delving into his complex bond with Plath. Their relationship was marked by both love and turmoil, and this is reflected in the poems.

The guide explores how Hughes' experiences with Plath influenced his writing, and how her work, in turn, interacted with his own. It examines the themes, imagery, and emotions that are common to both their bodies of work.

By studying this guide, readers can gain a deeper appreciation for Hughes' final collection and the significance it holds in the context of his relationship with Plath. It provides a fascinating look into the creative minds of two literary giants and the ways in which their lives and works intertwined.

Quando sei l'unico scrittore creativo in famiglia, possono nascere gelosie e contrasti. Gli altri potrebbero non capire perché tu chiudi in una stanza solo con i tuoi pensieri, nel tentativo di corteggiare la musa. Tuttavia, quando si è in due scrittori, c'è un'atmosfera di collaborazione. È più facile concentrarsi su cosa si fa, perché entrambi fanno la stessa cosa. È come cantare insieme al buio.

Se il matrimonio fra Ted Hughes e Sylvia Plath è una canzone intonata al buio, le Lettere di compleanno ne sono la partitura. Erica Wagner è come la simpatica vicina di casa che ti insegna a leggere la musica. Queste lettere offrono un'intima e coinvolgente visione del rapporto tra i due scrittori. Mostrano i loro momenti di gioia, di dolore, di speranza e di disperazione. Sono una testimonianza della forza e della complessità del loro amore e della loro collaborazione artistica.

In definitiva, la relazione tra Ted Hughes e Sylvia Plath è stata unica e influente. Le Lettere di compleanno consentono agli lettori di approfondire la conoscenza di questa storia d'amore e di arte, e di apprezzare la maestria di entrambi i scrittori.

A fairly good account of criticism regarding Ted Hughes’ collection Birthday Letters has been presented. The collection consists of 88 poems about Sylvia Plath and his marriage to her.

The author gives a substantial amount of historical background and approaches the poems in a linear chronological order. This provides valuable information about what was happening in the lives of Hughes and Plath at each instance.

Moreover, it offers parallel readings of poems by both Plath and Hughes that share a common theme or content. I found this aspect to be very interesting as it allows for a deeper exploration of their works and the relationship between the two poets.

However, what I did not particularly like was that by the end of the book, I only had a general idea of the background of Birthday Letters. There was no poem-by-poem close reading or analysis of any of the poems in the collection. In fact, most of the time, Wagner would jump from one poem to the next, which I found rather confusing to keep up with and concentrate on. This can be especially challenging if one aims to read this in parallel with the actual collection.

Overall, while the book has its merits in providing historical context and parallel readings, the lack of in-depth analysis of the individual poems is a drawback.

It was a rather one-sided portrayal.

After a certain period of time, it gave the impression that it was written with the intention of presenting Ted as the victim of a public trial and his own silence.

For the most part, we get to know Sylvia through his poems, and she has been depicted as suicidal from the very beginning.

Nevertheless, the poems themselves were enjoyable.

It seems that the author might have had a particular agenda in presenting the story in this way.

Perhaps they wanted to emphasize Ted's plight and the consequences of his actions.

However, by only showing one side of the story, a more complete and nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between Ted and Sylvia is lost.

It would have been interesting to have seen more of Sylvia's perspective and her own thoughts and feelings.

Despite this, the article does offer some insights into the world of Ted Hughes and his poetry.

It makes one wonder about the true nature of their relationship and the events that led to their tragic end.

Overall, while the portrayal may be one-sided, it still manages to engage the reader and leave them with much to think about.

Sylvia Plath was a woman with an incredibly gentle soul.

It is truly a great disappointment that her husband, Ted Hughes, became so infatuated with that other woman.

If only he had possessed the courage and integrity to be a real man and tell Sylvia outright, "I want a divorce," instead of engaging in a secret affair that ultimately led to a pregnancy.

This kind of behavior not only betrayed Sylvia's trust but also caused her great pain and heartache.

Plath's vulnerability and the delicacy of her spirit made her especially susceptible to such emotional turmoil.

One can't help but wonder how different her life might have been if Hughes had been more honest and upfront with her from the beginning.

Perhaps she could have found a way to move on and heal, rather than being left to deal with the aftermath of his deception and betrayal.

Plath's tragic story serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty and respect in relationships.

I have truly become completely fascinated with this woman. It is truly astonishing to me that if she were alive in the present day, she would be of my grandma's age. However, I have this strange feeling as if she is like me. I don't really know why, but I just feel an intense connection to her. Maybe it's a bit too much, I think.

It's as if there is an invisible thread that binds us together across time and space. Her story, her experiences, they all seem to resonate with something deep within me.

I find myself constantly thinking about her, imagining what her life was like, what challenges she faced, and how she overcame them.

This connection has opened up a whole new world for me, a world full of mystery and wonder. I can't wait to explore it further and discover more about this remarkable woman who has captured my heart.