A dazzling literary thriller - the story of Sigmund Freud assisting a Manhattan murder investigation. Think SHADOW OF THE WIND meets THE HISTORIAN. THE INTERPRETATION OF MURDER is an inventive tour de force inspired by Sigmund Freud's 1909 visit to America, accompanied by protege and rival Carl Jung. When a wealthy young debutante is discovered bound, whipped and strangled in a luxurious apartment overlooking the city, and another society beauty narrowly escapes the same fate, the mayor of New York calls upon Freud to use ...
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A dazzling literary thriller - the story of Sigmund Freud assisting a Manhattan murder investigation. Think SHADOW OF THE WIND meets THE HISTORIAN. THE INTERPRETATION OF MURDER is an inventive tour de force inspired by Sigmund Freud's 1909 visit to America, accompanied by protege and rival Carl Jung. When a wealthy young debutante is discovered bound, whipped and strangled in a luxurious apartment overlooking the city, and another society beauty narrowly escapes the same fate, the mayor of New York calls upon Freud to use his revolutionary new ideas to help the surviving victim recover her memory of the attack, and solve the crime. But nothing about the attacks - or about the surviving victim, Nora - is quite as it seems. And there are those in very high places determined to stop the truth coming out, and Freud's startling theories taking root on American soil.
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine.
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Damaged cover. The cover of is slightly damaged for instance a torn or bent corner.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good or better condition. This book is in stock now, in our UK premises. Photos of our books are available on request (the pictures you see on Alibris are NOT our own). Are you outside UK? Then unless you arrange shipping 'Via Alibris' we WILL cancel your order; this is due to the derisory shipping allowance that Alibris make to sellers for overseas orders.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. This book is in stock now, in our UK premises. Photos of our books are available on request (the pictures you see on Alibris are NOT our own). Are you outside UK? Then unless you arrange shipping 'Via Alibris' we WILL cancel your order; this is due to the derisory shipping allowance that Alibris make to sellers for overseas orders.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages.
This fascinating story, which begins in New York in 1909, tells of the one and only visit of Sigmund Freud to the United States, and the problems he encounters during his time there. He arrives with two of his disciples, Carl Jung and Sandor Ferenczi, and is immediately embroiled in controversies surrounding his treatment and methods. A murder occurs, then an attack with similar characteristics happens on the following day, and Freud is asked to quiz the victim in an attempt to identify the attacker, but he passes the case to an American colleague.
As the story unfolds, with many twists and turns, the protagonists are led a merry dance by the mastermind behind the crimes, and the reader will be kept in the dark until the very last page.
Freud and Jung encounter great resistance to their ideas regarding psychoanalysis of patients and they are looked on with scepticism by the police and the medical profession. A sub plot sees Carl Jung trying to establish his particular brand of analysis, seeking to further his own career and move out of the shadow of his mentor, Freud. This causes tension between the two men, and misunderstandings arise between Freud and his American sponsors who have brought him to the country to publicize his theories through public appearances and speeches.
Stratham Young, a physician and follower of Freud, is part of the welcoming committee, and becomes caught up in the criminal investigation, and becomes infatuated with one of the victims, thereby clouding his professional judgement.
The character of Charles Hugel, the New York coroner, gives us an insight into the early days of forensic science and the difficulties of implementing this new branch of police detection.
Apart from the constant ruminations by Stratham Young regarding Hamlet and the Oedipus complex, this is a very well written and informative book, and I recommend it highly.
JimSc
Sep 21, 2007
Crime Fiction at its best
If you enjoy a good murder mystery or crime thriller then this book is for you. Academic Jed Rubenfield's first foray into the world of fiction writing is immense. Set in the late1800s in New York the story centres around the deeds of a serial killer and involves the visit to the city of Sigmund Freud. The book is very fast paced and once started it is very difficult to put down. It has the feel of the best Sherlock Holmes novels, and has countless twists and counter twists. This book is a movie waiting to be made. If you only read one thriller this year this has to be the one. If Jed Rubenstein can better this novel, I wait with great anticipation.