The Slicks

On Sylvia Plath and Taylor Swift

Maggie Nelson author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Publishing:13th Nov '25

£9.99

This title is due to be published on 13th November, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

The Slicks cover

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’ Sinéad Gleeson

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 -- Sinéad 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 Koestenbaum

ISBN: 9781911717652

Dimensions: 160mm x 113mm x 7mm

Weight: 61g

80 pages