The Bell Jar
Faber and Faber, 1967. First Thus. Trade Paperback. Good. Item #635359
A SUPERB ASSOCIATION COPY, from the library of noted early Plath scholar Matthew Kangas, with his extensive annotations and commentary. Kangas is the editor and publisher of one of the rarest works in the Plath canon, 'The Surgeon at 2 a.m. & other Poems', printed in an edition of only 100 numbered copies in Oregon in 1971. It was issued by Kangas in conjunction with a seminar he was teaching on Plath at Reed College in January, 1971, prior to the first American publication of 'The Bell Jar'. As Kangas noted, at the time this scarce work was issued: 'The American public, I fear, has a rather slanted view of this woman's art. Available in print are only two work, The Colossus and Ariel, the latter having had such a considerable impact on its many readers... Someday all of Sylvia Plath's writing will be printed -- and the student and reader will see much more clearly the magnitude of her accomplishment...' His editorial prophecy, of a coming greater awareness of Plath's work was shortly to be validated by events. Kangas, already teaching college seminars on Plath at only 21 years of age, was to continue his efforts over the next several years to increase interest in her work, speaking at colleges, performing her radio play 'Three Women', etc. He later became a prominent art critic and author. This 1967 issue is the second printing of Faber's paperback edition (the first was 1966), which is the third printing overall (both following the 1963 original). This copy bears Kangas' ink stamp on first leaf, noting that the book was acquired 'in Manchester Oct 1969.' Most pages bear his marking, highlighting, ink and pencil underlining, notes, commentary, analyses, etc. This copy offers remarkable contemporary documentation of the thoughts of one of Plath's most dedicated early critical proponents in America. The spine and covers have some creasing, there is some edge wear, there is a coffee stain to upper right text margins, and the copy is marked and annotated as described.
Price: $1,250.00