In this posthumous collection of Dr Novey's papers, the discussion is of the nature, character and veracity of the historical data as it is recovered through history-taking in psychiatric work and through the analytic process in the treatment of patients in analysis. Dr Novey discusses this issue which is so central to all psychoanalytic clinical work, as well as theory making, in its many aspects and implications and relates it to the larger issue of biographical data and its validity, whether in history or in a court of law. This is an important book on the subject of reconstruction of personal history, which, though of daily preoccupation with analysts, has not received the discussion and attention that it merits. One hopes that Dr Novey's book will lead to a more serious examination of the issues entailed.