The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical novel by Sylvia Plath about a young woman named Esther Greenwood who experiences a mental breakdown in 1950s America. The book, originally published under the pseudonym "Victoria Lucas" in 1963, explores themes of societal expectations for women, mental illness, and the struggle for identity. It is considered a classic of feminist literature and a harrowing portrayal of depression, mirroring Plath's own life and struggles.