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Max Hodann gives in this book a comprehensive survey of the work accomplished by pioneers for sex-enlightenment and sexual reforms. His own intimate experiences enable him to include in this survey many countries and the detailed work accomplished by outstanding men and women in them.
The nature of the main contents of the books can be gathered from the titles of the chapters: 'The Secret of Generation', 'The Fight against Venereal Diseases', 'The History of Birth Control', 'The Fight for Legalised Abortion', 'Sex Education'.
In these chapters the rise and the progress of movements for sexual reform, in face of the fear and prejudice of the ruling and the ruled classes alike, is recorded. The psycho-analyst will find the last two chapters disappointing. They are entitled 'The Analysis of the Sex Taboo' and 'The Patriarchate in Dissolution'. The author turns from his objective account of the history of the movements mentioned and enters upon the field of interpretation of the subjective factors that are responsible for 'sex taboo'. He admits Freud as a pioneer in the work of breaking down the barriers that once prevented even discussion of sex problems, but he repudiates the concept of the Oedipus conflict as the unconscious root of sex taboo. Hodann's position can be gathered from his words.1 'The Oedipus complex is a stupendous intellectual construction with most significant implications for early historical achievements in social organization, religion and art: it is as inspiring a creation as the great Drama of Sophocles, from which Freud took its name.'
Since the Oedipus complex is considered by the author an intellectual conception one does not wonder that he repudiates the evidence of the emotional intensity associated with this complex as illustrated in Mrs Klein's analysis of a girl of two.2 Even so, if Max Hodann can see. intellectually that the Oedipus 'construction' has most significant implications for early historical achievements in social organ