EUPHORIA

Kelly Burke beautifully channels Sylvia Plath in this fictional memoir. As the last few months of Plath's life unfold, Burke gives voice to the emotional swings the poet might have endured as she struggled with a difficult pregnancy, the isolation of the Devon countryside, and her husband Ted Hughes's inattention and infidelity. Even though the sad facts of Plath's last days are well known, Burke's frenetic delivery provides immediacy and suggests the tragic inevitability of Plath's situation. Together, Cullhed and Burke illuminate the immense poetic gift Plath possessed, and that alone is a major feat. This is an excellent performance of a compelling novel. D.G.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]