(1995). Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 64:177-180 Freud's Women.: By Lisa Appignanesi and John Forrester. New York: Basic Books, 1992. 563 pp. Review by: Ellen Handler Spitz Few areas of twentieth century intellectual endeavor have welcomed a greater number of gifted women or afforded them more opportunities to make impressive contributions than the field of psychoanalysis. Yet it is often held, both by those who have a close familiarity with Freud's oeuvre and by those who do not, that Freud's view of women was at best partial, historically contingent, and unresolved, and at worst deprecatory; thus, it seems puzzling that psychoanalysis has nonetheless attracted from its earliest phases up to the present time a dazzling array of brilliant and creative women thinkers. This enigma, central to a consideration of Freud and women is addressed by implication in the book under review here; but, like much else that bears on the polemicized topic of female psychology, it remains to pique us after we have closed the covers of this aptly titled, eminently readable book. Freud's Women blends history and theory on low speed in a gentle mix and is destined to ple [This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.] |
