This book offers a new appraisal, sensitive to the historical context, with the original documents re-examined.
In recent years historians of psychoanalysis have come to view Freud's case of Anna O. as a failure and have cast doubt on the very foundations of psychoanalysis itself. This new study challenges existing historical scholarship by providing an unparalleled review of the available evidence on the case and reaches new conclusions about its outcome.
In recent years historians of psychoanalysis have come to view Freud's case of Anna O. as a failure and have cast doubt on the very foundations of psychoanalysis itself. This new study challenges existing historical scholarship by providing an unparalleled review of the available evidence on the case and reaches new conclusions about its outcome.
'For more than fifty years, the case of Anna O. has been scrutinized by many of the most distinguished historians of psychoanalysis. Now in this meticulously researched and brilliantly argued book, Richard Skues demonstrates that almost everything that has passed for common knowledge about the case has been wrong. Skues sets a new standard for psychoanalytic scholarship, and both Josef Breuer and future generations will be permanently in his debt.'
-Peter L. Rudnytsky, Professor of English, University of Florida, USA, and Editor of American Imago
'Skues's book is a meticulous stock-taking of what can be historically verified, of the development of the established facts, of the contributions of the important authors and their respective internal integrity and tendentiousness...the book is commendable and worth reading.' Psychoanalysis and History, 10 (1), 2008
-Albrecht Hirschmüller, author of The Life and Work of Josef Breuer.
'[His] substantial thesis is elaborated by eye-opening interpretations of all known sources in their own context as well as sound reflections on the retrospective revaluation on Anna O. in the light of the emerging psychoanalysis ... What pleases most is Skues's well balanced and fair judgement on all the participants in the discourse on Anna O., enriched now and then with gentle irony.' Gesnerus. Swiss Journal of the History of Medicine and Sciences 64 (3/4), 2007
-Gerald Kreft, Edinger-Institut,Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
-Peter L. Rudnytsky, Professor of English, University of Florida, USA, and Editor of American Imago
'Skues's book is a meticulous stock-taking of what can be historically verified, of the development of the established facts, of the contributions of the important authors and their respective internal integrity and tendentiousness...the book is commendable and worth reading.' Psychoanalysis and History, 10 (1), 2008
-Albrecht Hirschmüller, author of The Life and Work of Josef Breuer.
'[His] substantial thesis is elaborated by eye-opening interpretations of all known sources in their own context as well as sound reflections on the retrospective revaluation on Anna O. in the light of the emerging psychoanalysis ... What pleases most is Skues's well balanced and fair judgement on all the participants in the discourse on Anna O., enriched now and then with gentle irony.' Gesnerus. Swiss Journal of the History of Medicine and Sciences 64 (3/4), 2007
-Gerald Kreft, Edinger-Institut,Frankfurt am Main, Germany.