Ferenczi's turn in psychoanalysis /

This is a fascinating collection of essays by both European and North American psychoanalysts, many of whose names have been associated with the recent upsurge of attention to the writings of Freud's close colleague Sandor Ferenczi (1873-1933) in analytic circles. The book especially promotes and vitalizes Ferenczi's link to contemporary developments in theory and practice. The 15 essays are divided into three sections; the first looks at the influence of the Budapest School in Europe and America, and the second examines aspects of the famous Freud/Ferenczi alliance and rupture. The third part focuses on elements of Ferenczi's controversial techniques. There are many lively nuggets of comparison, companionship, contrasts, and contentions between a both willing and unwilling "father" Freud and his chosen, brilliant, but also troublesome "son." Gampieri-Deutsch's essay is luminous and exceptionally useful, addressing details of the commonly perceived polarizations between the two masters' work, e.g., experience versus insight, father versus mother, research versus healing, standard technique versus experiment. A major contribution to the growing knowledge about Ferenczi, his inspirations, creativity, and risky directions. Graduate students and up. R. H. Balsam; Yale University