Part Two: Chapter I Summary and Analysis

Janet Malcolm traveled to Durham in North England to meet with Anne Stevenson. She had met her a year after Bitter Fame had been published. She had appeared at a meeting of the University Women's Club in London where she was being taken to task for her portrayal of Sylvia in her book. She tried to defend herself and explained that some of her work was tainted by the controlling hands of Olwyn. The press had decided that Anne was a bad player in the Plath saga and would not settle for any compromise. In their interview, Anne told Malcolm of the hurt she felt when a critic had accused her of being envious of Sylvia's talent.

Before she met with Stevenson, Malcolm read a transcript of a recent lecture Anne gave and felt heartened...