The Slicks
On Sylvia Plath and Taylor Swift
Published on 13. November 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
80 pages
978-1-911717-65-2 (ISBN)
Description
A rallying, celebratory essay about Sylvia Plath, Taylor Swift and unbridled female ambition by the beloved author of Bluets and The Argonauts
In The Slicks, Maggie Nelson positions culture-dominating pop superstar Taylor Swift and feminist cult icon Sylvia Plath as twin hosts of the female urge towards wanting hard, working hard and pouring forth - and as twinned targets of patriarchy's ancient urge to disparage, trivialise and demonise such prolific, intimate output.
A heady and rallying melding of popular culture and literary criticism, The Slicks is an inspired and unexpected assessment of two iconic female artists by one of the most revered and influential critics of her generation.
PRAISE FOR MAGGIE NELSON:
'Her words come as though from a great distance and strike incredibly close' Anne Enright
'Among the sharpest and most supple thinkers of her generation' Olivia Laing
'Always brilliant' Geoff Dyer
'One of the most unique voices in non-fiction: enquiring, political, lyrically dazzling, empathetic' Sinead Gleeson
In The Slicks, Maggie Nelson positions culture-dominating pop superstar Taylor Swift and feminist cult icon Sylvia Plath as twin hosts of the female urge towards wanting hard, working hard and pouring forth - and as twinned targets of patriarchy's ancient urge to disparage, trivialise and demonise such prolific, intimate output.
A heady and rallying melding of popular culture and literary criticism, The Slicks is an inspired and unexpected assessment of two iconic female artists by one of the most revered and influential critics of her generation.
PRAISE FOR MAGGIE NELSON:
'Her words come as though from a great distance and strike incredibly close' Anne Enright
'Among the sharpest and most supple thinkers of her generation' Olivia Laing
'Always brilliant' Geoff Dyer
'One of the most unique voices in non-fiction: enquiring, political, lyrically dazzling, empathetic' Sinead Gleeson
Reviews / Votes
Among the sharpest and most supple thinkers of her generation -- Olivia Laing One of the most unique voices in non-fiction: enquiring, political, lyrically dazzling, empathetic -- Sinead Gleeson Always brilliant -- Geoff Dyer Her words come as though from a great distance and strike incredibly close -- Anne Enright Maggie Nelson shows us what it means to be real, offering a way of thinking that is as challenging as it is liberating -- Eula Biss Maggie Nelson who writes with such passion, clarity, explicitness, fluidity, playfulness and generosity that she redefines what thinking can do today -- Wayne KoestenbaumMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 161 mm
Width: 110 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
66 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-911717-65-2 (9781911717652)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2025
Vintage Digital
€9.49
Available for download
Person
Maggie Nelson is the author of several books of prose and poetry including The Red Parts, Bluets, the National Book Critics Circle Award-winner The Argonauts, On Freedom, Like Love and, most recently, Pathemata. She teaches at the University of Southern California and lives in Los Angeles.