Case studies on some of Freud’s first patients – some of the earliest of his recorded work during the time when he had not fully developed his theories on psychoanalysis, interpretation of dreams, and the unconscious.

Written together with his early mentor Joseph Breuer, we see cases and ideas here from each as their approaches were just starting to diverge. We see how the psychoanalytic method emerges gradually from an hypnosis-based method, to conscious talking therapy approach. We see how his ideas on repression and the subconscious came from early experiences with hysterical patients, their thoughts, behaviours, delusions, and the underlying factors and experiences that led to their genesis. We also see the beginning of the link of mental disturbances to traumatic (often, though not exclusively) childhood experiences, and the explanation of these as a subconscious defense mechanism, mediated by repression.

The five case studies here run to about 130 pages, which is followed by around 60 pages each from Freud and Breuer on the interpretation of the cases, and the theoretical development based on these. There is also a good introduction and preface that puts the whole work into context, making the volume up to about 400 pages in total.

Really a fascinating insight into the birth of the Freudian movement - you can feel the movement of the gray cells as you turn the pages. Not in itself an accurate representation of Freud’s mature theories, but fascinating to those interested in how they came to be. ( )

This is an excellent representation of Pre-PsychoAnalytic writings with the "Project" which contains several of the major case studies which led to Freud's theories on Hysterical symptoms and ultimately, unconscious processes. Breuer drifted away from Freud, just like most other collaborators including Fleiss, Jung, Ferenzci, Abraham, and eventually even his cabib-boy, ernest Jones. But his writings on the treatment process are clear and concise, where Freud is often a bit conversational and undulating in expressing his opinions in a roundabout fashion. Well worth the extra time to read. ( )