Freud and his long Journey into Death

Freud is dying. Memories, ideas, scenes from his long life are passing through his mind. The physical pain is unbearable. As agreed to years before, Dr. Max Schur has administered a lethal injection of morphine. To tell his story, the author employs a great variety of resources: He alternates internal monologue with letters to Martha or Princess Marie Bonaparte; there are “reminiscences” of the family’s employee, Paula Fichtl, “interviews” given to an English journalist, dialogues with Dr. Schur and with Anna Freud—affectionately called Annerl—and so forth. Lucidity and humor, which Freud had in abundance, glitter on each page, though mixed with a certain pessimism and resignation. Illustrated with original photos. Foreword by Renato Mezan.