(1977). Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 46:707-708 Review by: John E. Gedo The editor of this slim volume has made Otto Rank's monograph of 1924 available in English in the hope that study of this work would throw light on Rank's defection from psychoanalysis which took place shortly after its publication. He has written a scholarly Introduction, provided a list of Rank's several versions of this material, and added copious footnotes clarifying and expanding many of the author's source references. This meticulous treatment of a historical curio may, in fact, be too pedantic an approach to a fragile piece of work. Winter seems to look upon Rank's interpretation of the Don Juan theme as currently viable, a judgment that this reviewer cannot share. To be sure, the monograph is exemplary in its methodology, and this fact makes it a rarity in the field of applied analysis. Rank carefully considered all of the extant versions of Don Juan in arriving at his interpretation, and he traced the theme back to its mythic antecedents. He did not fall into the e [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.] |
