"Sylvia was one of those defining moments that only happen a few times in your life," writes screenwriter John Brownlow in his introduction, of the movie that explores the story of Ted and Sylvia, a sensual, volatile, and brilliant married couple who emerged as two of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. Academy Award-winner Gwyneth Paltrow stars as legendary American author and poet Sylvia Plath, opposite Daniel Craig as British Poet Laureate Edward (Ted) Hughes. The film begins in 1956. Sylvia is in England on a Fulbright Scholarship when she meets Ted and within four months, they are married. The newly published Ted attracts the attention of the literary world, along with the attentions of admiring women. As the marriage frays, Sylvia's creative impulses surge, and her writing begins to flow forth in unstoppable bursts. "I really feel like God is speaking through me," she exults. Her destiny -- and Ted's, inextricably intertwined with hers -- is at hand.

Sylvia is directed by New Zealand filmmaker Christine Jeffs (Rain); produced by Alison Owen (Elizabeth); and stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Daniel Craig, Jared Harris, Blythe Danner, and Michael Gambon. In the acclaimed Newmarket Shooting Script format, the book contains a fascinating introduction by John Brownlow in which he shares his screenwriting secrets and how he distilled the story of Sylvia and Ted from their poetry and many conflicting biographies. The book also includes a facsimile of the script, a selection of 30 black-and-white movie stills, production notes, short biographies of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, and the full cast and crew credits. Book jacket.