The Daffodil Days by Helen Bain review – virtuoso portrait of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath’s final year

The novel, "The Daffodil Days," explores the disintegration of a marriage in the early 1960s through the perspectives of surrounding individuals. The story follows a couple's move from London to the countryside, their attempt at settling down, and their eventual departure. The narrative focuses on the experiences of the couple as seen through the eyes of the village doctor, their charlady, neighbors, friends, and colleagues. While the jacket description doesn't explicitly state it, the couple is based on Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. The timeframe described in the novel mirrors the period when Plath wrote "The Bell Jar," gave birth to her son, and penned poems later published as "Ariel". Hughes began his affair with Assia Wevill during this period, which Plath soon discovered. The novel offers a unique perspective on a well-documented subject by focusing on the observations of those around the couple. The book's style creates an immersive experience, making the reader feel as though they are witnessing events firsthand. The novel reconstructs the atmosphere of that time, providing believable details about the couple's life.