Euphoria

By Elin Cullhed

Translated by Jennifer Hayashida

Published by Cannongate UK (Allen and Unwin)

ISBN 1838855963

Euphoria is a curious, fictive version of the story of the final year in the life of Sylvia Plath, who was married to Ted Hughes. They were two of the 20th Century’s most creative poets. Hughes was a prolific writer for the BBC and later appointed Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom.

The book is set in the year before Sylvia’s suicide written by Swedish author Elin Cullhed. From the author’s imagination using Sylvia Plath’s diary entries, it seems that both poets used each other as their inspiration for writing.

t is flooded with Sylvia Plath’s own imagery from what was happening in her own mind. They seem to be locked in a constant battle, as she struggles to balance the roles of wife, mother lover, home maker and writer living far from her beloved America in a small village in Devon.

She is unhappy, disappointed with the move, which she thought at first, seemed to be an idyllic move to the country from London which is described so gloomily with depressing weather nosey neighbours and villagers lacking in the culture she is craving.

It is tempestuous, yet passionate and loving, with jealousy over Ted Hughes’ regular escapes to London, something Plath would like to do too. The angst, jealousy and disagreements are written from different perspectives.

Throw into this mix there’s the difficult relationship with her mother and her mother’s visit in the summer which causes her even more angst.

Euphoria is an embellished novel filled with imagery of love and the yearning of freedom for both Hughes and Plath. Plath wants unhindered freedom to write. Hughes wants freedom from being a father and to have attention from other women, including an affair with Assia Wevil or as Plath calls her ‘the Devil’, for whom he leaves his family. Yet prior to Hughes leaving her, she feels constricted in his presence, unable to write, even unable to breathe.

This is a gripping read about marriage, love, lust, moodiness, family and the strong desire for creative freedom.

Tip: When buying this book the hardback would be more comfortable to hold, I found the paperback very tightly bound and difficult to handle.

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee

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