The Extraordinary Love of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes

#sylviaplath #tedhughes
In this episode of A Life Less Ordinary, Frieda Hughes invites us into her home to discuss the letters, love and lasting legacy of her parents - literary giants Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. Frieda gives us an intimate look at the letters Plath wrote to Hughes shortly after their marriage while Plath was studying at Cambridge, as well as a foray into the family photo album. Among these historically important items we are also given a glimpse of Ted and Sylvia’s wedding rings, family recipes and Sylvia’s beloved Tarot deck. These items and many more will be offered in our upcoming sale, Your Own Sylvia: Sylvia Plath’s letters to Ted Hughes and other items, property of Frieda Hughes, open for bidding online from 9 - 21 July.


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[LMCEK]

Their "extraordinary love"? He sounded like a textbook narcissist and she kill3, d herself after he cheated on her & abandoned his family. If that's love I'll happily stay single.

[aliyarahman]

A cautionary tale, there is no love greater then self worth. The rest is addiction.

[amorosalife]

I suppose it's easier for a child to believe their parents shared an extraordinary love for each other.

[lyndasmythe]

I’m sorry but what was “extraordinary” about this when he abuses her, serially cheats on her and then leave her to fend for herself in the 1950s when women had a very limited sense of autonomy (or means) so that she kills herself? Am I missing something?

[patbest]

She was very young when her mother died so her memories of her father would be more vivid kind and loving She will therefore never know of her mother's despair of the humiliation of his constant affairs

[Universalist]

Unfortunately Ted Hughes greatest love of his life was himself. I wish Sylvia Plath had never met him. The problem is that she thought she had found her perfect man, and nobody is actually that perfect.

[nicolelabram]

Love at its most brutal and abusive . Frieda really ?
Some people will do anything or sell anything for money!

[randas.]

Why on earth would you sell your family's legacy ? No one would take care of it better than you in your lifetime. And if you have no kids to leave these treasures to, then to a museum they belong. So sad.

[Jlazinlas]

This is bittersweet. No matter how much they were in love with each other, that somehow changed towards the ends with Syvia Plath herself describing the abuse she suffered in her letters.

[danielrdrown]

What I don't understand is why these precious items have been sold and separated for eternity. Why were they not housed at an institution ? Freida did not need the rather paltry one million dollars they brought at auction. The royalties alone from her parents writing must be substantial. There are no grandchildren from Ted and Sylvia to provide for. These 'beautiful things" have been scattered around the world. How sad.

[TatexLy]

"the extraordinary love"
Not sure if love includes lying and selfishly destroying the person you "love"

[sadem]

Ted Hughes was simply terrible to women. I'm really sorry to say this, because I'm sure Freida Hughes loved her father, but she was raised by a man who had a history of being psychologically and physically abusive toward his partners.

[annford]

Her voice quality--as I'm sure she has been told--is reminiscent of her mother's, even from hearing Plath's voice via recording. #trainedearsneverlie

[Lilowillow]

right. This is totally not about the money, of course. If you really treasure all of this and does not want the value to be lost, just give it to a museum!

[ShoesDClatinoamerica]

The beginning at 3:40 It was like listening to Sylvia herself, having your mother's voice must be such a beautiful and amazing gift.

[astroemerald]

With all due Respect Hughes had an affair with one of Sylvia's frrinds driving her into a depressive episode and suicide .

[me-onei]

Frieda…you truly got your mothers grace and beauty. Thank you for this amazing video <3 That Garden is beyond beautiful

[bookofdust]

I assume the reason she’s selling now is that Uncle Warren died last year, so she is really the last of her mother’s line who remember Sylvia directly.

[morganlafey]

Extraordinary love? Don't you mean extraordinary abuse?

[MargotHypnos]

Should be kept as a collection somewhere. Not split off around the world.😮