Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz: The Rebellion of Sylvia Plath & Anne Sexton
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- Create Date：2022-04-04 09:51:57
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Gail Crowther
- ISBN：1982138424
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Summary
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。
Reviews
Andrea Janov
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Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz was good yet， not what l expected。 From the name and the into， l expected this to be more of an exploration of when Sexton and Plath's lives overlapped and how they influenced each other， not how their lives and careers run in parallel to one another。 That said， it is an interesting exploration into their parallel words and how women struggled and still struggle to navigate the responsibilities and expectations the world puts on them while trying to achieve a Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz was good yet， not what l expected。 From the name and the into， l expected this to be more of an exploration of when Sexton and Plath's lives overlapped and how they influenced each other， not how their lives and careers run in parallel to one another。 That said， it is an interesting exploration into their parallel words and how women struggled and still struggle to navigate the responsibilities and expectations the world puts on them while trying to achieve and live out their passions and purpose。 。。。more
Ruth
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Stumbled upon this at the local library， and very happy I did。 Beautifully-written， nuanced， makes you feel all the feels *and* I learned a lot。
Kristen Claiborn
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tThe author of this book has a not-so-secret love for Sylvia Plath。 This book is incredibly researched and includes almost eerie details of Plath’s daily life。 If Plath wasn’t already beyond the land of the living， I would think this author was a bit of a stalker。 Gail Crowther， however， is definitely not a stalker。 Crowther is a talented writer and even better at research， and she wrote a book that is both compelling and heartbreaking。 tI’ve never been a fan of Sylvia Plath’s writing， and I’ve tThe author of this book has a not-so-secret love for Sylvia Plath。 This book is incredibly researched and includes almost eerie details of Plath’s daily life。 If Plath wasn’t already beyond the land of the living， I would think this author was a bit of a stalker。 Gail Crowther， however， is definitely not a stalker。 Crowther is a talented writer and even better at research， and she wrote a book that is both compelling and heartbreaking。 tI’ve never been a fan of Sylvia Plath’s writing， and I’ve never read a single word written by Anne Sexton。 I’m afraid poetry isn’t my favorite， and Plath always seemed to be so morose。 I’m fine reading a poem about a beautiful tree， but that’s about as far as my interest goes （and even that dates back to middle school）。 However， Sylvia Plath is definitely an interesting woman。 It’s a shame that such a talented write will always be regarded as shrill， hysterical， and other stereotypical female things。 It’s even more of a shame that she chose to end her life。 With this book， Crowther was able to pull Plath’s story into a bit of reality。 Plath came across as a woman living her life the best way she knew how， instead of just a woman battling depression。 Crowther’s passion for Sylvia Plath and her life shines through every sentence。 This was an enlightening book to read。 。。。more
Wenrug
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audio。 Not sure why I chose this book。 I am not a lover of poetry and have read nothing by Sylvia Plath or Anne Sexton。 Never even heard of Anne Sexton！ I think I liked the title and cover。 Anyway， wow。 These women were ahead of their time in so many ways--feminism， mental illness， alcoholism， etc。 Plath and Sexton had real issues--anxiety， depression， physical and emotional abuse， etc。 They were given experimental drugs and treatments。 If they had been alive now， their outcomes would probably h audio。 Not sure why I chose this book。 I am not a lover of poetry and have read nothing by Sylvia Plath or Anne Sexton。 Never even heard of Anne Sexton！ I think I liked the title and cover。 Anyway， wow。 These women were ahead of their time in so many ways--feminism， mental illness， alcoholism， etc。 Plath and Sexton had real issues--anxiety， depression， physical and emotional abuse， etc。 They were given experimental drugs and treatments。 If they had been alive now， their outcomes would probably have been much different。 Both were talented and tortured。 I feel bad for their children。 Parts were really hard to listen to but I learned a lot。 Still not a fan of poetry but I'll give The Bell Jar a chance。 。。。more
Shawnda
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Really interesting exploration of two of the best known American female poets。 I appreciated the way the author tried to frame them and their writing in modern ways。 Well worth the read。
Shelley Klaner
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Loved the analysis between Plath and Sexton。 Learned a lot about Sexton I didn’t know。 The ones reason I didn’t give the book five stars although I enjoyed it as it wasn’t an easy read。 I thought it would be。 The content was heavy at times and I think shorter chapters would have helped。 The “martini” title I guess made me think it would be lighter and quicker。 Definitfir scholars and researchers like myself。 I do recommend it。
Lauri
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I received a complimentary copy of this book。 Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own。 An impactful， well-researched， and compassionately-written book about the lives of two female poets that intersect for a brief time。 It is during this period that the women have their three-martini afternoon at the Ritz， while bonding over their struggles as women in a male-dominated world， their mental illness， and their writing。 Both women were groundbreaking in their craft， during the 50s an I received a complimentary copy of this book。 Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own。 An impactful， well-researched， and compassionately-written book about the lives of two female poets that intersect for a brief time。 It is during this period that the women have their three-martini afternoon at the Ritz， while bonding over their struggles as women in a male-dominated world， their mental illness， and their writing。 Both women were groundbreaking in their craft， during the 50s and 60s when women's roles were defined and marginalized。 The structure of the book looks at both women through comparison and contrast， by examining aspects of their lives: Rebels， Early， Days， Sex， etc。 Crowther artfully conveys the complexity， uniqueness， and talent of each woman， through her use of examples， quotes， stories， and interpretations。 While extremely informative， this book is also entertaining and heartbreaking。 。。。more
Jan Ayers
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I'd give 3 stars for about 25%。 I also listened to the audio books for portions （while driving to work） and I enjoyed the reader。 I'd give 3 stars for about 25%。 I also listened to the audio books for portions （while driving to work） and I enjoyed the reader。 。。。more
Robyn Martin
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Audible
David O'Nan
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Gail Crowther puts you in a time & place when it was hard for female poets such as Plath， Sexton and others to challenge a male dominated at times （in the world in general at the time） profession。 They struck back and put out some of the most dominant works of all time。 Learn about the relationships and correlation between these poets and the many they crossed paths with that are in the know such as Lowell， Ted Hughes obviously and more。
Sharon
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Very interesting but often disturbing analysis of these two，gifted poets， both of whom suffered from mental illness and society’s treatment for women in those eras。 Also the marginalization of women writers in a male dominated community。 Tragic ending for both but that’s far from the whole story。 Well written。
Sean
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I am a "First Reads" winner。Crowther's 'Three Martini Afternoons' read more like an abstract than a fully rendered and fully realized biography of Plath and Sexton and their contributions， overall impact， and greatness in literature。 The recounting of their "afternoons at the Ritz" held the promise of presenting something "new" and revelatory but， for me， never 。。。。 delivered。Perhaps 'Three Martini Afternoons' should be read as less a biography （as Crowther's book is presented） and more a detail I am a "First Reads" winner。Crowther's 'Three Martini Afternoons' read more like an abstract than a fully rendered and fully realized biography of Plath and Sexton and their contributions， overall impact， and greatness in literature。 The recounting of their "afternoons at the Ritz" held the promise of presenting something "new" and revelatory but， for me， never 。。。。 delivered。Perhaps 'Three Martini Afternoons' should be read as less a biography （as Crowther's book is presented） and more a detailed introduction - a primer？ - to further， other， more fleshed-out works on Plath and Sexton （like Diane Middlebrook's 'Anne Sexton: A Biography'， for example）。For those who have a cursory interest in Plath and Sexton， Crowther's 'Three Martini Afternoons' is a good starting point for insights into these awesome women's lives and works。 。。。more
Jessica Kinser
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This was a fascinating comparison of two women ahead of their times that had a momentary intersection of their lives。 The book is full of comparisons and differences written in a very organized way。
Jasmin Wall Reid
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Rehashing well known information about both poets and attempting to frame it around a relationship that barely existed。 Very little to draw on and way too much speculation for what is essentially a comparative biography of two contemporaries。 It doesn't help that the speculation smacks of judgement at times。 Rehashing well known information about both poets and attempting to frame it around a relationship that barely existed。 Very little to draw on and way too much speculation for what is essentially a comparative biography of two contemporaries。 It doesn't help that the speculation smacks of judgement at times。 。。。more
Amy Drelick
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I really love learning about these 2 women， their friendship and the way their lives paralleled in so many ways。
chloë iris
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three martini afternoons at the ritz is a beautifully written and well researched memoir about the lives and careers of revolutionary poets， anne sexton and sylvia plath。 from their contributions to feminist literature， opening doors for the taboo topics of womanhood， addressing female nihilism and depression， and even dismantling the stereotypes in modern media of women who enjoy these poets’ work — this book addresses it all。 this memoir is quick and erudite。 completely worth the read！
Jovana
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I was looking for 20th century poems but was recommended this book instead by a bookstore clerk and spontaneously decided to give it a go。 I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did。 The lives of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton were sort of foreign to me。 I had maybe read a poem or two of Plath’s and did a project in high school on Anne Sexton。 But wow did this book do its job; shared a riveting biography with really stellar writing。 The subject matter often was not very bubbly， but the book sur I was looking for 20th century poems but was recommended this book instead by a bookstore clerk and spontaneously decided to give it a go。 I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did。 The lives of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton were sort of foreign to me。 I had maybe read a poem or two of Plath’s and did a project in high school on Anne Sexton。 But wow did this book do its job; shared a riveting biography with really stellar writing。 The subject matter often was not very bubbly， but the book sure was a joy to read。 。。。more
Becky Loader
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When two of the most amazing poets ever meet， there will probably be fireworks。Yes， definitely。Very well researched and documented。 Imagine being able to overhear Plath and Sexton actually talking to each other。
Colin
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This biography brought Plath and Sexton back to life in my living room and moved me deeply。
Ann Marie
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Plath and SextonI read this book in 2 hours。 Did I like it， yes。 It gave me an in depth peek into Sylvia Plath"s and Anne Sexton"s lives which I enjoyed， especially being a depressive myself。 Did I wish it was more a fictionalized story with sprinkling of poems？ Absolutely。 But I was never promised that here so I can't complain。 If I want to read their poems， I will look up their poetry。 Its a good book if you want to learn more about their lives， marriages， views on misogyny， sex， abuse and fem Plath and SextonI read this book in 2 hours。 Did I like it， yes。 It gave me an in depth peek into Sylvia Plath"s and Anne Sexton"s lives which I enjoyed， especially being a depressive myself。 Did I wish it was more a fictionalized story with sprinkling of poems？ Absolutely。 But I was never promised that here so I can't complain。 If I want to read their poems， I will look up their poetry。 Its a good book if you want to learn more about their lives， marriages， views on misogyny， sex， abuse and feminism。 I enjoyed it。 I am not a poetry fan but I love these two ladies poems！ 。。。more
Heidi Yalowitz
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I am not a poetry reader （maybe I should start？）， but I am interested in biographies of women who have experienced emotional abuse and mental health treatment。 This dual biography provides the cultural context， and offers insight into the behaviors of these two gifted women。
Matilda
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The biography follows the friendship of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton， the trailblazing and mythic poets that forever changed the path forward for female poets。 It is a story of the double standards of being a woman in 50's America， whilst also being real rebels on the scene。 The first women to have a seat at the table alongside Robert Lowell， T。S。 Eliot and Ted Hughes， Plath and Sexton unapologetically claimed their role， though it was not without a fight。 The consistent resistance of male edito The biography follows the friendship of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton， the trailblazing and mythic poets that forever changed the path forward for female poets。 It is a story of the double standards of being a woman in 50's America， whilst also being real rebels on the scene。 The first women to have a seat at the table alongside Robert Lowell， T。S。 Eliot and Ted Hughes， Plath and Sexton unapologetically claimed their role， though it was not without a fight。 The consistent resistance of male editors and colleagues to supersede their work have a moment in the spotlight is not surprisingly， but astonishing。 The way Plath and Sexton disregarded all labels of taboo on subjects like female sexuality， menstruation and death shows courage and character， whose results were to persevere them for generations to come。 Crowther shows us the many nuances of these women， their struggles mentally， physically， emotionally and spiritually。 I kept thinking that to carry the heavy burden of the caging standards on a woman in the 50's alongside the persistent critique of them as poets as well as their work， is enough to allow anyone to loose it。 That Plath on top of that financed her presumingly male genius of a husband and paved the way for him completes the picture of a woman with a hell of a lot of grit， despite all her struggles。 I was fascinated to read this biography and the peculiar relationship between the two that could hardly be described as warm， but rather a joined force for the same cause， not without its rivalry though， and for a strange connection and shared fascination of tabooed subjects like suicide。 It is clear to me how some level of jealousy or rivalry was inescapable between the two， for it must have been quite the chock to find an equal， or as close to it as you could get in those times。 The book is a quick read and won't be a re-read on my behalf， but definitely served as a deeper glimpse into the minds and lives of these iconoclastic poets。 。。。more
Beth Ann
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Not until the penultimate chapter in a few generic lines did this book factually recount any details of conversations between Plath and Sexton。 Don’t waste your time with this if you have already read any biographies of these women。 Nothing new here。
Courtney Schumacher
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Made me want to read every single thing that both of them have ever read。 The way the chapters were written was unique， breaking out into facets of life basically about how they were alike and different。 The chapters on raising a family and sex as a woman in that time period and the pressures they all felt to be the "right" woman。 Made me want to read every single thing that both of them have ever read。 The way the chapters were written was unique， breaking out into facets of life basically about how they were alike and different。 The chapters on raising a family and sex as a woman in that time period and the pressures they all felt to be the "right" woman。 。。。more
Tanya
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The parallels in these women's lives are pretty astonishing。 Not knowing much about their private lives （except their deaths & what I read in The Bell Jar） this was a pretty eye opening listen。 The parallels in these women's lives are pretty astonishing。 Not knowing much about their private lives （except their deaths & what I read in The Bell Jar） this was a pretty eye opening listen。 。。。more
Emily
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Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton are icons for those of us who grew up in the "second wave" feminist movement。 I always knew who they were， their perceived impact on women's literature and that they committed suicide。 I read "The Bell Jar" in 1977。 But this is a must-read book for so many reasons beyond what you think you know about Plath and Sexton。 It is a beautifully drawn biography that puts in context their lives and their work。 It's painful to read because both of them endured a lot of pain。 B Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton are icons for those of us who grew up in the "second wave" feminist movement。 I always knew who they were， their perceived impact on women's literature and that they committed suicide。 I read "The Bell Jar" in 1977。 But this is a must-read book for so many reasons beyond what you think you know about Plath and Sexton。 It is a beautifully drawn biography that puts in context their lives and their work。 It's painful to read because both of them endured a lot of pain。 But it reminds us that they were not their illness but whole women who had parents， husbands， in-laws， children， recipes， households， and who worked outside the home （in studies， at tables， attending workshops and conferences， at public readings and radio broadcasts， teaching）。 This was， of course， in the fifties and sixties when most middle-class women or higher-class women worked as housewives and mothers。 Crowther organizes the book starting with an overview of how Plath and Sexton met and generally how their lives were similar， then separates each chapter by topic （"mental health" "writing"）， addressing them as individuals。 While there are similarities in their lives and they were only four years apart in age， they are very different personalities: Plath was an organized， good student， perfectionist whose gifts were recognized when she was quite young。 Sexton a scattered bon vivant who was considered a poor student and who came to writing seriously after she developed serious postpartum depression。 Each experienced periods of severe illness and hospitalization。 Each received some treatment we would recognize as normal and familiar and other treatments that horrify。 The research is impeccable， the writing beautiful。 You need not know who the subjects are to love this book because it is a thoughtful， compassionate， and interesting read。 It's about fascinating people who did not quite fit into their era and so made waves。 Big waves with the advent of "Confessional Poetry" and writing on taboo subjects about what it means to be female。 I don't know what I believe about Crowther's observations about what might have been different for Plath and Sexton if they had been born and grown up after feminism took hold again。 I can't say whether her occasional suggestions that today's treatment of mental health issues would have been more effective for them。 I can say that Crowther's views are drawn from significant knowledge of her subjects and the era and are reasonable food for thought， not-- "out there。" I've not read poetry seriously for over forty years， but my next step is to purchase both women's works and spend more time with them。 This book is that good。 。。。more
elizabeth roberts-zibbel
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Felt a bit like reading someone’s thesis。
Susanne （Pages of Crime）
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I'm so glad I read this so soon after completing Sylvia Plath's letters， it is all the more rich and moving because of this。 I'm so glad I read this so soon after completing Sylvia Plath's letters， it is all the more rich and moving because of this。 。。。more
Katie Fox
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I was enjoying it but didn't finish it before it was due back at the library。 I am going to try again！ I love to read anything about Sylvia Plath so this is a must-read for me。 I was enjoying it but didn't finish it before it was due back at the library。 I am going to try again！ I love to read anything about Sylvia Plath so this is a must-read for me。 。。。more
Hannah Garden
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