Crossing The Water

"Crossing the Water, a collection of poems written just prior to those in Ariel, . . . is of immense importance in recording [Plath's] extraordinary development. One senses on every page a voice coming into its own, the chaos of a lifetime at last getting ready to assume its final, triumphant shape."  — Kirkus Reviews

Sylvia Plath's extraordinary collection pushes the envelope between dark and light, between our deep passions and desires that are often in tension with our duty to family and society. Water becomes a metaphor for the surface veneer that many of us carry, but Plath explores how easily this surface can be shaken and disturbed.

This landmark collection from a 20th-century literary icon features:

• Pivotal Early Work: Experience the extraordinary artistic development in the poems written just before her magnum opus, Ariel, offering a vital glimpse into her evolving genius.
• Confessional Poetry: A voice coming into its own, exploring the chaos of a lifetime as it prepares to assume its final, triumphant shape.
• Nature & The Self: Water, stone, and flora become haunting symbols for the fragile surface of the psyche and the deep passions churning just beneath.
• Feminist Themes: A stark examination of the tensions between desire and the duties of family and society, from a foundational voice in women's literature.