Family Romance, Family Secrets: Case Notes from an American Psychoanalysis, 1912

This fascinating book which presents an early psychoanalyst's session-by-session notes on a case of hysteria caused by severe sexual trauma and incest offers a vivid portrait of psychoanalytic practice in the second decade of the twentieth century. Accompanying these notes are insightful commentaries by Elizabeth Lunbeck and Bennett Simon that situate the case historically and throw light on the many difficulties that both analyst and patient encountered in the treatment. The book will be of great interest to students of the history of psychoanalysis and other psychological therapies to those interested in the history of women and gender and to clinicians struggling with the treatment of severely traumatized patients today.

Elizabeth Lunbeck is professor of history at Princeton University. Bennett Simon is clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard University and training and supervising analyst at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.