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.