Overview

Clinical Fictions: Psychoanalytic Novelists and Short Story Writers is the first book to explore works of fiction written by prominent psychoanalysts. Broken down into thematic sections, the book traces the literary output of pioneering psychoanalysts such as Julia Kristeva, Bruce Fink, Thomas Odgen, and Gregorio Kohon, among others. Berman looks at works of historical fiction, detective fiction, and the short story, and shows how recurring themes typical of these genres can be understood both psychoanalytically and through a literary lens. The works included investigate experiences of childhood adversity, life in dystopian societies, experiences of psychosis, bodily autonomy, personal loss and, above all, trauma. Unpacking these themes, and their depiction through fiction, Berman gives the reader the tools to apply psychoanalytic literary theory to further works. Interweaving his personal correspondence with authors, including a heartwarming exchange with Cliff Wilkerson, Berman offers unparalleled access to the inner workings of the writers’ minds. This book will be of interest to students and researchers using psychoanalytic literary theory, as well as mental health practitioners who are interested in the intersections between literature and psychoanalysis and discovering new ways of probing the unspoken and unconscious.

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9781041034629

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Reviews

“The sheer breadth of the project is impressive, introducing to me, and I’m sure many other potential readers, new thinkers and works in both literature and psychoanalysis.” William simms, author of Obscenity, Psychoanalysis and Literature, Routledge “I know of no other book that surveys this material in quite such an elegant and artful manner or that takes up this topic with such clinical and writerly sensibilities. The theme of traumatic loss is clearly crucial in this exploration of the literary unconscious; this book will be a vital reference text for a psychoanalytic and clinical readership.” Derek Hook, Associate Professor of Psychology and a clinical supervisor at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, USA

Author Information

Jeffrey Berman is Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University at Albany, USA. He is the author of over 20 books, including Death Education in the Writing Classroom (2012).

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