An unexpected celebration of two of the most famous female poets of all time - Taylor Swift and Sylvia Plath - and an inspired treatise on female ambition by the adored cult 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 toward 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.

The Slicks is a heady, rallying and unexpected melding of popular culture and literary criticism - an inspired treatise and unexpected celebration of two iconic female poets by one of the most revered and influential critics of her generation.