Mortimer Rare Book Room Exhibitions

The Bell Jar Revisited, June-September 8, 2013
Book Arts Gallery, Neilson Library, level 3
Lecture: September 5, 2013

“The Bell Jar Revisited,” a major exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sylvia Plath’s iconic novel, is on display in the Book Arts Gallery, Neilson Library, level 3 through September 8, 2013. Curated by recent graduate Amanda Ferrara ’13 for her capstone project in the Archives Concentration Program, the show explores some of the source material for the novel as well as Plath’s creative process, including outlines, correspondence, drafts, and reviews. A smaller version of Amanda Ferrara’s exhibition is on display in the Alumnae Gym, level A, under the title “’Universal, Driving Ambition’: The Bell Jar at 50.”

On Thursday, September 5, there will be an illustrated talk in the Neilson Library Browsing Room by Karen V. Kukil, Associate Curator of Special Collections, on "The Bell Jar at 50." A reception will follow in the Book Arts Gallery, Neilson Library, level 3. The event is free and open to the public.

More Plath Exhibitions at Smith

“Sylvia Plath Reads the Wife of Bath,” an exhibition based on the special studies research of Jaclyn Majewski ’13, is on display outside the Mortimer Rare Book Room, Neilson Library, level 3, through September 8, 2013. The show includes Plath’s annotated copy of The Poetical Works of Chaucer, journals, drawings, photographs, and early drafts of  Plath’s poems “Magi” and “Lady Lazarus,” which was written on the back of a draft of The Bell Jar.

“From Petals to Paper: Poetic Inspiration from Flowers” includes early drafts of Sylvia Plath’s poem “Among the Narcissi” and a recording of Plath reading “Tulips.” The manuscripts from the Mortimer Rare Book Room’s Sylvia Plath Collection are on display in the Lyman Plant House through Labor Day.