Ernest Jones Muses On Sigmund Freud -

Freud Sigmund

Ernest Jones Muses On Sigmund Freud

 

Single page typed letter signed on letterhead of "The Plat, Elsted, Nr Midhurst, SX",  5" x 7". Typed on the recto, with the last sentence and signature on the verso. Dated "March 18", and signed by Ernest Jones as "Ernest Jones". Fine condition.

 

Ernest Jones established both the British Psychoanalytical Society and the American Psychoanalytic Association, wrote a three-volume biography of Sigmund Freud, and played a key role in helping Sigmund and Anna Freud escape Nazi Austria, as well as numerous other continental analysts. Jones met Freud in 1908 in Salzburg and thus began a personal and professional relationship which, to the acknowledged benefit of both, would survive the many dissensions and rivalries which marked the first decades of the psychoanalytic movement, and would last until Freud's death in 1939. The major undertaking of Jone's final years was his monumental account of Freud's life and work, published to widespread acclaim in three volumes between 1953 and 1957.

 

Although the year of the letter is not known, Jones discusses and analyzes Freud's theories on "consciousness", and "narcissism" with Dr. Saul, and alludes to his publications. The letter is shown in part below:

 

" … About my terrible sentence I would remark that (1) although I was not quoting him, I had Freud's thought in my mind rather than my own. (2) You do not lay enough stress on my word "seem"

 

I entirely agree with your thesis myself and am altering "seem" to "appear" in my next edition. Personally I do not think that anything called "consciousness" really exists. It is only a facon de parler. As to the difference of humans from animals it is interesting to reflect that this seems to be due to life. It does not exist with savages or of course children. So that particular form of narcissism is acquired not innate … "

 

Freuds analysis on consciousness and narcissism are well known, with this letter touching upon the concepts most likely during the period while he was creating his volumes on Freud's work

 

After Hitler took power in Germany, Jones helped many displaced and endangered Jewish analysts to resettle in England and other countries. In March 1938, Jones flew into Vienna at considerable personal risk to play a crucial role in negotiating and organizing the emigration of Freud and his circle to London

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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