Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz cover art

Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz

The Rebellion of Sylvia Plath & Anne Sexton

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Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz

By: Gail Crowther
Narrated by: Imani Jade Powers
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About this listen

 Named a Best Book of the Year by the Los Angeles Times

In this vividly rendered and empathetic biography of two of the greatest poets of the 20th century—Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton—“the friendship and rivalry that the pair shared—not to mention the titular cocktails at a Boston hotel—is explored in fascinating detail” (Town & Country).

Introduced at a poetry workshop in Boston University, Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton formed a friendship that would soon evolve into a fierce rivalry, colored by jealousy and respect in equal terms.

In the years that followed, these two women would not only become iconic figures in literature, but also lead curiously parallel lives haunted by mental illness, suicide attempts, self-doubt, and difficult personal relationships. With weekly martini meetings at the Ritz to discuss everything from sex to suicide, theirs was a relationship as complex and subversive as their poetry.

Based on in-depth research and unprecedented archival access, Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz will leave you “hungering for more of what these two literary comets burned with: the power of a little poetry. Deliriously fast-paced and erudite, this is highly recommended” (Library Journal, starred review). Art & Literature Authors Literary History & Criticism Women Mental Health

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All stars
Most relevant
A superbly informative and very well written book. It has helped me understand the poetry of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton even more. A fascinating read which take you through the complexities of both women’s lives. I highly recommend listening to this.

Brilliant

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Enjoyed the info but overall I found the reading style monotonous, and sometimes strangely inflected.

Interesting comparative biographies of Plath & Sexton

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