Sylvia Plath was one of the defining voices of the twentieth century and one of the most captivating: few other poets have introduced so many young readers to poetry. The poems in this fresh and welcoming edition were selected by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. In my selection, which is roughly chronological to follow her evolution, I have tried to walk through the landscape of Sylvia Plath's poetry as if for the first time, fifty years older than when she left us. In this way, I have relived the almost physical excitement I felt when I read this bold, bright, brave poet who changed the world of poetry for all of us.