The Myth of the Birth of the Hero: A Psychological Interpretation of Mythology - Softcover

Otto, Rank

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1445508257 ISBN 13: 9781445508252

Publisher: Read & Co. Books, 2015

Synopsis

Originally published in 1914, this fascinating volume in the Nervous and Mental Disease Monograph Series presents a psychological interpretation of characters from classical mythology, from Oedipus to Perseus, and Hercules to Jesus. Authored by Dr Otto Rank (1884-1939), an associate of Sigmund Freud, it is suited to those interested in the classics, history and mythology, and psychoanalysis alike. Chapters include: introduction - Sargon - Moses - Karna - Oedipus - Paris -Telephos - Perseus - Gilgamos - Kyros - Tristan - Romulus - Hercules - Jesus - Siegfried - Lohengrin. We are republishing this rare, vintage text in a high quality, modern and affordable edition, complete with a specially written concise biography.

About this title

About the Author

Otto Rank (1884-1939) was a successful and well-respected Austrian psychologist who was part of Sigmund Freud’s inner circle for twenty years until his later break with Freud. He moved to Paris in 1926 where he became a psychotherapist for such artists as Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin, who mentions Rank often in her memoirs. Rank has had a wide influence on many pioneers in the field of psychotherapy, transpersonal psychology, spiritual studies, mythology, and organizational development. Azafran Books was established with a clear aim in mind – to make available a selection of classic books for today’s contemporary readers. The books in our catalogue have been selected from a broad range of themes; such as philosophy (occidental & oriental), mysticism & magic, new thought, religion & spirituality, folktales, mythology, cult fiction, poetry, social commentary, and psychology. Yet they all have a common theme, or purpose – to stimulate our thinking and modes of perception. For this reason, they have been chosen to be re-published and re-presented to the modern reader. Azafran Books have been re-edited, formatted, and presented with new design work – they are NOT scanned copies with original errors. Our books have been carefully re-published to the highest of standards – by a team of dedicated real people – not an algorithm! Our aim at Azafran Books is to bring a range of stimulating books, many of them largely forgotten, to the attention of the reader today. In other words, to bring you ‘Classic Books for a Contemporary World.’

Review

"Nearly all prominent civilized nations, including Babylonians and Egyptians, Hebrews and Indians, Persians, Greeks and Romans, as well as Germanic peoples and others, have left us literatures in which, early on, they glorify national heroes--mythical princes and kings, and founders of religions, dynasties, empires, and cities--in many poetic tales and legends. The history of the birth and youth of these supermen came to be especially invested with fantastic features, which in different nations, though widely separated by space and entirely independent of each other, present a baffling similarity or, in part, a literal correspondence...The ultimate problem is not whence and how the material reached a certain people. That question is, Where did it come from to begin with?"

Edition details

• Publisher: Read & Co. Books
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1445508257
• ISBN 13: 9781445508252
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 168