<p>Sylvia Plath was one of the defining voices of the twentieth century, and one of the most appealing: few other poets have introduced as many new readers to poetry. The poems in this fresh and inviting edition were chosen by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.<br><br><i>In my selection, which is roughly chronological to shadow her progress, I have tried to walk through the landscape of Sylvia Plath''s poetry as though for the first time, fifty years older than I was when she died. In doing so I have experienced afresh the almost physical excitement I felt when I first read this bold, brilliant, brave poet who changed the world of poetry for us all. </i>- Carol Ann Duffy</p>