The Colossus was published in 1960. It was the first volume of poetry by Sylvia Plath and remained the only work in the genre that came out during her short life. Nonetheless, its ingenuity and diversity had already proven her to be a colossal figure in the field when she died in 1963. Later, the posthumous publication of Ariel, another exceptional volume of poetry, ensured her a place among the greatest poets of all time.