Knopf published The Colossus & other poems on 14 May 1962. The table of contents differs significantly in the two publications. This was done to avoid complications and possible legal action because of some of the poems similarity to works by Theodore Roethke. The correspondence between Plath, Knopf, and Heinemann is held at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research center at the University of Texas, at Austin.

Vintage Books, a division of Random House, began publishing paperback copies of The Colossus in 1968.

Knopf lost the bidding war for Ariel around 1965 to Harper & Row. Heinemann also failed to sign Ariel, losing out to Hughes' publisher Faber.

Because she successfully published The Colossus with Knopf, Plath sent The Bell Jar to them for consideration. For a number of reasons, Knopf turned down The Bell Jar and the sensation that followed its 1971 publication likely upset the company.

Heinemann and Faber's editions of The Colossus includes the following poems: The Manor Garden, Two Views of a Cadaver Room, Night Shift, Sow, The Eye-Mote, Hardcastle Crags, Faun, Departure , The Colossus, Lorelei, Point Shirley, The Bull of Bendylaw, All the Dead Dears, Aftermath, The Thin People, Suicide Off Egg Rock, Mushrooms, I Want, I Want, Watercolour of Grantchester Meadows, The Ghost's Leavetaking, Metaphors, Black Rook in Rainy Weather, A Winter Ship, Full Fathom Five, Maudlin, Blue Moles, Strumpet Song, Ouija, Man in Black, Snakecharmer, The Hermit at Outermost House, The Disquieting Muses, Medallion, Two Sisters of Persephone, The Companionable Ills, Moonrise, Spinster, Frog Autumn, Mussel Hunter at Rock Harbour, The Beekeeper's Daughter, The Times are Tidy, The Burnt-Out Spa, Sculptor, Poem for a Birthday: 1 Who, 2 Dark House, 3 Maenad, 4 The Beast, 5 Flute Notes from a Reedy Pond, 6 Witch Burning, and 7 The Stones

The American edition excludes the following ten poems: "Metaphors", "Black Rook in Rainy Weather", "Maudlin", "Ouija", "Two Sisters of Persephone", "Who", "Dark House", "Maenad", "The Beast", and "Witch Burning".


A selection of reviews of The Colossus & other poems
Alvarez, A. "The poet and the poetess." The Observer. December 18, 1960: 21.

Anderson, Jack. "The sky is always gray in Sylvia Plath poems." Oakland Tribune. July 29, 1962.

Bergonzi, Bernard. "The Ransom Note." Manchester Guardian. November 25, 1960: 9.

Blackburn, Thomas. "Poetic Knowledge." New Statesman. December 24, 1960: 1016.

"Chained to the Parish Pump." Times Literary Supplement. March 16, 1967: 220.

Burke, Herbert. "Poetry." Library Journal. June 15, 1962: 2385-6.

Claire, William F. "Poetry by Sylvia Plath shows serious control." Daily Hampshire Gazette. July
     5, 1962: 18.

Dearmer, Geoffrey. "Sows' ears and silk purses." Poetry Review. July-September 1961: 166-8.

DeLancey, Rose Mary. "Sylvia Plath's poems unusual." Fort Wayne News. June 9, 1962.

Deutsch, Babette. "The colossus and other poems by Sylvia Plath." Tribune. August 26, 1962.

Dickey, William. "Responsibilities." Kenyon Review. Autumn 1962: 756-64.

Dickinson, Peter. "Some Poets." Punch. December 7, 1960: 829.

Dyson, A. E. "Book Review." Critical Quarterly. Summer 1961: 181-5.

"First poetry collection." Buffalo Evening News. May 26, 1962.

Fuller, Roy. "Review of The Colossus." London Magazine. March 1961: 69-70.

Hamilton, Ian. "Poetry." London Magazine July 1963: 54-6.

Hayman, Ronald. "Personal Poetry." Encounter. December 1967: 86-7.

Howard, Richard. "Five poets." Poetry. March 1963: 412-8.

Hurd, Pearl Strachan. "From the bookshelf." Christian Science Monitor. August 20, 1962: 11.

"Innocence and experience." Times Literary Supplement. August 18, 1961: 550.

Jerome, Judson. "A poetry chronicle Part 1." Antioch Review Spring 1961: 110-11.

Johnson, Donald B. "Sing, Ye poets, sing!" Worcester Telegraph. June 24, 1962.

Kenny, Herbert A. "The Colossus by Sylvia Plath." Boston Globe. June 5, 1962.

King, Nicholas. "Poetry: a late summer roundup." New York Herald-Tribune Book Review.
     August 26, 1962: 4.

Linenthal, Mark. "Sensibility & reflection from the poet's corner." San Francisco Sunday
     Chronicle. March 10, 1963: 33.

Morraes, Dom. "Poems from Many Parts." Time and Tide. November 1960: 143.

Myers, E Lucas. "The Tranquilized Fifties." Sewanee Review. January-March 1962: 212-20.

Owen, Guy. "Books abroad." Books Abroad. Spring 1963: 209.

"Plath, Sylvia. The colossus & other poems." The Booklist November 1, 1962: 200.

Press, John. "Four poets." Punch. April 5, 1967: 508.

Rosenthal, M. L. "Metamorphosis of a book."Spectator. April 21, 1967: 456-7.

Sargeant, Howard. "Poetry Review." English. Spring 1961: 157.

Simon, John. "More brass than enduring." Hudson Review. Autumn 1962.

"Sylvia Plath Hughes publishes her verse." The Townsman (Wellesley). April 1, 1960: 13.

"Sylvia Plath, in the Colossus." [first line] Washington Post. December 30, 1962: G-7.

"Sylvia Plath, The Colossus and other poems." Poetry. October 26, 1962.

"The Critic, The Translator and Poems Ancient and Modern." The Times of London. February 23,
     1961: 15.

Tulip, James. "Three Women Poets." Poetry Australia December 1967: 35-40.

Wain, John. "Farewell to the world." Spectator January 13, 1961: 50.

Whittemore, Reed. "Sylvia Plath, or Mrs. Ted Hughes, is an accomplished rhetorician." The
      Carelton Miscellany. Fall 1962: 89.