- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson; 1st ed edition (22 Oct 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 029764601X
- ISBN-13: 978-0297646013
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 16 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 949,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Erica Wagner, The Times
"This is an admirable book, fond but fair; hard to believe it could be bettered any time soon."
Michael Scmidt, The Independent
"Elaine has written the first full biography of Ted Hughes... a story full of fascination, told with judicious candour."
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
Edward James Hughes, the third child of William and Edith Hughes, was born on 17 August 1930 in Mytholmroyd, a village set in a narrow cleft of the Yorkshire Pennines. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Edward James Hughes, the third child of William and Edith Hughes, was born on 17 August 1930 in Mytholmroyd, a village set in a narrow cleft of the Yorkshire Pennines. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Elaine Feinstein's biography of Hughes manages to acheive what no other book I have read on Hughes or his first wife, Sylvia Plath, has managed, and that is to remain objective. She does not get caught up in the well known quarrels and squabbles regarding the marriage of the pair, nor Hughes' later life, but presents an objective view of his life. Equal weight is given to childhood, adolescence, university, life with Plath, Wevill and Orchard and there is focus on his poetry which relates to his life experiences but is not presented in an overly biographical manner, rather more gives insight into some of the experiences which may have informed and inspired his work.
The book is easy to read and presents Hughes as a fascinating individual, a talented poet and a real person.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As the title suggests, this is not a life-and-works biography but an account focusing on Ted Hughes's life. Nevertheless, elements of literary criticism are at times woven neatly into the narrative where Hughes's poetry is illuminated by the events of his life. The author's personal acquaintance with Hughes is made clear from the outset, and this provides an unusual shape to the book which begins as biographical work of pure research but evolves to include greater degrees of personal memoir.
The account of Hughes's relationship with Sylvia Plath is written with good measure and is generally objective (as is perhaps the most successful approach for discussing such a controversial and volatile relationship). Overall, however, Feinstein is largely sympathetic towards Hughes on the issue of Plath's depression and eventual suicide, although Plath herself is painted as a difficult character, to the point of being unreasonable.
As Hughes was such a prolific poet with an eventful life, this is a surprisingly short biography (the main text comprises 244 pages) and so Hughes's personal character remains rather enigmatic although the events and relationships that inspired and compelled him in his work are well documented. The richness of details and quality of writing make this an engaging and thought-provoking biographical account that will sit well on the shelf alongside Hughes's Collected Poems.
The account of Hughes's relationship with Sylvia Plath is written with good measure and is generally objective (as is perhaps the most successful approach for discussing such a controversial and volatile relationship). Overall, however, Feinstein is largely sympathetic towards Hughes on the issue of Plath's depression and eventual suicide, although Plath herself is painted as a difficult character, to the point of being unreasonable.
As Hughes was such a prolific poet with an eventful life, this is a surprisingly short biography (the main text comprises 244 pages) and so Hughes's personal character remains rather enigmatic although the events and relationships that inspired and compelled him in his work are well documented. The richness of details and quality of writing make this an engaging and thought-provoking biographical account that will sit well on the shelf alongside Hughes's Collected Poems.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first biography I have read about Ted Hughes and his relationship with Sylvia Plath and although it is well written it was difficult to get a 'real'feel for what made him tick or understand the depth of his feelings for any of the women that entered his life. It did however make me curious to find out more about both him and Sylvia Plath as individuals.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Kevin Bell
I have been writing poems since my teens. I am now in my mid-50s. This year I am self-publishing a book of my poems on a print-to-order basis. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kevin Bell
Feinstein's Hughes
Feinstein researched her subjects well, bringing in her own analysis of his poems, interviews with friends, fellow students, other poets and family friends. Read more
Published 9 months ago by RR Waller
Like most people
I picked up this book after reading the death and life of Sylvia Plath. The Plath book was a one sided story which painted Ted Hughes in an abhorrant light. Read more
Published 15 months ago by C. S. Bancroft
Not perfect, but brilliant
Elaine Feinstein's biography of Ted Hughes is more than just a biography, it is an attempt to set the record straight about one of the most talented and compelling poets of the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Felicity Alma
The life of Ted Hughes
Weeks after finishing Elaine Feinstein's book on Ted Hughes, the tragic events of his life are still on my mind. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2003 by Anneli Eriksson
Interesting but superficial
Feinstein's biography of Hughes is very interesting. As befits a biography by someone who knew him, it is sympathetic but even-handed in the treatment of his tempestuous, often... Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2002 by S. de Waal
A wonderful understanding of a wonderful poet
Feinstein really makes Ted Hughes come alive, as a wonderful poet who had extraordinary things happen to him. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2002
Worth reading, but ultimately dissapointing
This biography would be more accurately titled 'The story of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath', since that is what the bulk of the book is most interested in. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2002 by bobbaw@hotmail.com
An excellent biography!
This is a beautifully written and extremely informative study of a great poet. I really enjoyed reading this stylish and illuminating biography. Highly recommended!
Published on 2 Nov 2001
A concise and well-regulated book.
This is a poised and succinct account of the life of Ted Hughes, with a carefully regulated tone. The task of gathering material and portraying events in a true and fair... Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2001
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
