Review by Library Journal Review
Phillips, a well-known psychotherapist and literary critic, believes that the "talking cure" of psychoanalysis, dependent as it is upon language, is inextricably linked to literature. Accordingly, he has produced a number of insightful essays that explore the relationship between the literary arts and the unconscious. In this new collection of book reviews, lectures, and critical pieces, Phillips juxtaposes anecdotes from his own psychotherapy practice with discussions of works by an eclectic group of authors: A.E. Housman, Melanie Klein, Fernando Pessoa, Fritz Wittels, and Hart Crane, to name just a few. Not surprisingly, he also includes liberal references in many of the pieces to Freud's writings and theories. A useful addition to interdisciplinary studies, this unique book is recommended for academic collections. Ellen Sullivan, Ferguson Lib., Stamford, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In his new collection of essays, Phillips (The Beast in the Nursery, 1998, etc.), former principal child psychotherapist at Charing Cross Hospital in London, attempts to wed his first love (literature) with his second (psychoanalysis). Beginning with Freud, psychoanalysts expressed their admiration, bordering on envy, for the poet, whom they felt had an intuitive grasp of a psychological truth that they sought to discover through the application of science. As the father of psychoanalysis aptly put it, literature discovers the unconscious, whereas psychoanalysis discovers a method for studying it. Surveying a century-long history of psychoanalysis, the author notices a decline in its ambition, from the impudent claim to being a superior fiction to a modest place as one of many interpretative methods. He gives credit where credit is due, pointing out that psychoanalysis self-identification with literature is not entirely without foundation, as both rely on language and eloquence. Psychoanalysis is a rhetorical practice aimed at restoring the patients confidence through the verbal medium. It has an oral tradition and a body of literature (Phillips draws a parallel between Freud and the romantic writers). Finally, both deal with human nature. The author gives a number of psychoanalytical essays (from Winnicotts to Kleins) a critical reading, and he debunks many presumptions that have not withstood the test of time (such as the bold statement that literature is a disguised representation of infantile sexual desires). While he never overtly claims that psychoanalysis is inferior to literature, Phillips promotes a more literary version of psychoanalysis, one that is more committed to happiness and inspiration . . . than to self-knowledge. In this vein, he discusses a variety of cultural topics, from Aristotle, Plato, Shakespeare, and cloning to the latest translation of the diary of the legendary Russian ballet dancer Vaclav Nijinsky. Intellectually stimulating and refreshingly unbiased.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Review by Kirkus Book Review
