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Paula Heimann had been preparing her psychoanalytic papers for publication for many years when her task was interrupted by her death. She was then 83 years old, and had been interested and involved in psychoanalysis for 55 years. Margret Tonnesmann completed the task of editing this collection of 24 scientific papers with great care and dedication.
Paula Heimann was one of the most inspiring teachers and creative thinkers that the British Psycho-Analytical Society has ever had. Born in Danzig from Russian parents in 1899, she first trained as an analyst at the Berlin Institute, with Theodor Reik as her training analyst. Like other Jewish colleagues from the Continent, she moved to London in 1933, having been recommended by Max Eitingon to Ernest Jones. In the Introductory Memoir by Pearl King, included at the beginning of the book, we learn of the circumstances in which Paula Heimann arrived in England, how she became a patient of Melanie Klein, and subsequently one of her most loyal supporters. King describes how, from 1949 to her resignation from the Melanie Klein Trust in 1955, Paula Heimann gradually moved from being Melanie Klein's 'crown princess' (as she was considered by many) to becoming a true Independent analyst, a name that she favoured to the alternative 'Middle group'.
In her Introduction, the Editor summarizes some of the main theoretical and clinical developments of Paula Heimann's psychoanalytic contributions in the specific areas of early development; the role of aggression and destructive impulses; and the consequent changes in technique. For those who still doubt the complex, subtle, intricate interrelationship of theory and technique, this book is a wonderful illustration of it. Changes in Heimann's theoretical development are followed by clear technical changes.
For many years, Paula Heimann was better known for her paper 'On Counter-transference', published in 1950, and for her contributions to the 'Controversial Discussions', which clear