After Sylvia is an anthology of new writing celebrating the work and legacy of Sylvia Plath. Published by Nine Arches Press in October 2022, the book honours the 90th anniversary of Plath's birth through a range of compelling poems and thought-provoking essays by leading and up-and-coming poets and scholars from the UK and beyond.

After Sylvia is shaped around five inspiring chapters, each exploring a key Plathian theme: Nature, Rebirth, Womanhood, Mothers & Fathers and Magic. Co-edited by Ian Humphreys and Sarah Corbett, contributors include Mona Arshi, Emily Berry, Mary Jean Chan, Heather Clark, Pascale Petit and Jacob Polley.

This vital anthology sets out to help dispel the myth of Sylvia Plath as tortured genius destined to her fate, by expressing the power and complexity of her work, legacy and reputation as one of the most important and influential writers of the 20th century.

Full list of contributors:

Moniza Alvi, Romalyn Ante, Mona Arshi, Polly Atkin, Tiffany Atkinson, Sally Baker, Colin Bancroft, Emily Berry, Nina Billard Sarmadi, Caroline Bird, Sharon Black, David Borrott, Mary Jean Chan, Heather Clark, Angela Cleland, Jane Commane, Sarah Corbett, Jonah Corren, Gail Crowther, Mari Ellis Dunning, Samatar Elmi, Ruth Fainlight, Daniel Fraser, Rosie Garland, Victoria Gatehouse, Rebecca Goss, Annie Hayter, Gaia Holmes, Ian Humphreys, Julie Irigaray, Bhanu Kapil, Victoria Kennefick, Martin Kratz, Zaffar Kunial, Jennifer Lee Tsai, Carola Luther, Karen McCarthy Woolf, Roy McFarlane, Nina Mingya Powles, Mark Pajak, Caleb Parkin, Pascale Petit, Jacob Polley, Niamh Prior, Shivanee Ramlochan, Clara Rosarius, Devina Shah, Penelope Shuttle, Jean Sprackland, Laura Stanley, Paul Stephenson, Degna Stone, Dorka Tamas, Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Peter Wallis, Tom Weir, Sarah Westcott, Merrie Joy Williams, Sarah Wimbush, Tamar Yoseloff.

Poems and essays in celebration of Sylvia Plath

About the Author
Ian Humphreys' debut poetry collection Zebra (Nine Arches Press) was nominated for the Portico Prize. His second collection, Tormentil won a Royal Society of Literature 'Literature Matters' Award while in progress. He is the editor of Why I Write Poetry and the producer and co-editor of After Sylvia: Poems and Essays in Celebration of Sylvia Plath, both published by Nine Arches Press. In 2023, Ian was appointed Writer in Residence at the Bronte Parsonage Museum. He is widely published in journals and anthologies, and has written for the BBC. Ian is a fellow of The Complete Works. Sarah Corbett has published five poetry collections, most recently And She Was and A Perfect Mirror. Both were Highly Commended in the Forward Poetry Prizes. Her first collection The Red Wardrobe won an Eric Gregory Award and was shortlisted for the Forward Best First Collection Prize and the T.S. Eliot Prize. A new collection is forthcoming from Pavilion in 2023.


Book Information
ISBN 9781913437565
Author Ian Humphreys
Format Paperback
Page Count 142
Imprint Nine Arches Press
Publisher Nine Arches Press