Cover of The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath, 1963

American novelist, 1932–1963.

The Bell Jar is a 1963 novel by Sylvia Plath.

  • Critics' Darling

On 2 of the 17 lists it was eligible for.

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At a glance

Author
Sylvia Plath
First published
1963
Length
240 pages (UK paperback)
Genre
Literary fiction, Psychological, Feminist, Autobiographical

Is The Bell Jar worth reading?

2 of the 17 best-of lists it could have made include it: 100 novels that shaped our world (BBC Arts) and The 100 best novels written in English (The Guardian / Observer).

ListPlaceOriginal
100 novels that shaped our world (BBC Arts, 2019)ListedSee the list
The 100 best novels written in English (The Guardian / Observer, 2015)ListedSee the list

Best edition of The Bell Jar

The edition we link to is the Faber & Faber paperback (2005), 240 pages.

Publisher
Faber & Faber (paperback, 2005)
Pages
240
ISBN
9780571226160

How critics, prizes and readers rate The Bell Jar

Critics rate it most highly: it earned 17% of the points available on critics' lists, against 0% on prize lists and 0% on readers' and booksellers' lists.

Critics
17%
Prizes
0%
Readers and booksellers
0%

Share of the available points it earned on each kind of list it was eligible for. How the scores work

Books like The Bell Jar

If you liked The Bell Jar, try On the Road, A Dance to the Music of Time or The Tin Drum.

Lists used on this page