Melanie Klein in Berlin

Her First Psychoanalyses of Children

Claudia Frank author Sue Young translator Sophie Leighton translator Elizabeth Spillius editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:17th Mar '09

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Melanie Klein in Berlin cover

In this book Claudia Frank discusses how Melanie Klein began to develop her psychoanalysis of children. MelanieKlein in Berlin: Her First Psychoanalyses of Children offers a detailed comparative analysis of both published and unpublished material from the Melanie Klein Archives.

By using previously unpublished studies, Frank demonstrates how Klein enriched the concept of negative transference and laid the basis for the innovations on both technique and theory that eventually led not only to changes in child analysis, but also to changes in the analysis of adults. Frank also uncovers the influence that this had on Klein's later theories of the paranoid-schizoid and depressive positions, and on her understanding of psychotic anxieties.

The first seven chapters in the book provide an explanation of the essence of Klein's approach to child psychoanalysis covering topics including:

  • the inevitability and usefulness of negative transference
  • development of play
  • early conscious and unconscious phantasies.

Part two provides a translation of Klein's unpublished notes on the treatments of four of the children she analysed in Berlin: 7-year-old Grete, 2-year-old Rita, 7-year-old Inge and 6-year-old Erna.

Melanie Klein in Berlin is the first text to make extensive use of Klein's unpublished papers, clinical notes, diaries and manuscripts. It will appeal to anyone involved in child psychoanalysis and the development of Melanie Klein's thinking.

‘This book is the work of a true scholar. And we all have much reason to thank Claudia for making us aware of the results of her meticulous comparison of Klein’s published papers, her unpublished papers and her clinical treatment notes’ – Elizabeth Spillius, from the Preface

"Highly erudite...an in-depth summary of Klein's theory and technical methods. A thoroughly researched book that will be of greatest use ot Kleinian scholars but also will be of interest to seasoned psychoanalytic practitioners as well as those who teach child analysis in psychoanalytic institutes. I highly recommend Frank's book to this audience." -Christine C. Kieffer in PsycCRITIQUES

"We owe profound gratitude to Frank, who presents us with Klein’s handwritten notes (meticulously translated by Sophie Leighton and Sue Young), along with case material both unpublished and previously published. The material is offered not simply as process notes, but with Frank’s explication and analysis of Klein’s concepts, in historical perspective, of treating children and adolescents analytically. Many of Klein’s theoretical concepts of child analysis are fundamental to our clinical work in contemporary child analysis. ... What makes this volume so valuable is the transparent way in which the material is presented, as well as the opportunity it offers to follow the evolution of Klein’s thinking and its historical context. Furthermore, the book emphasizes that Klein’s contributions are essential to child analysis in ways that many contemporary child analysts might not fully appreciate."- Anita G. Schmukler, The Psychoanalytic Quarterly


‘This book is the work of a true scholar. And we all have much reason to thank Claudia for making us aware of the results of her meticulous comparison of Klein’s published papers, her unpublished papers and her clinical treatment notes’ – Elizabeth Spillius, from the Preface

"We owe profound gratitude to Frank, who presents us with Klein’s handwritten notes (meticulously translated by Sophie Leighton and Sue Young), along with case material both unpublished and previously published. The material is offered not simply as process notes, but with Frank’s explication and analysis of Klein’s concepts, in historical perspective, of treating children and adolescents analytically. Many of Klein’s theoretical concepts of child analysis are fundamental to our clinical work in contemporary child analysis. ... What makes this volume so valuable is the transparent way in which the material is presented, as well as the opportunity it offers to follow the evolution of Klein’s thinking and its historical context. Furthermore, the book emphasizes that Klein’s contributions are essential to child analysis in ways that many contemporary child analysts might not fully appreciate."- Anita G. Schmukler, The Psychoanalytic Quarterly

ISBN: 9780415484985

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 920g

504 pages