Wilfred Bion’s works are considered to be difficult, obscure and abstract; reading them is seen as a strenuous, demanding task. This paper argues that one reason for this perception lies in Erika Krejci’s translations of Bion’s key texts, Learning from Experience, Elements of Psycho-Analysis and Transformations, which were published by Suhrkamp between 1990 and 1997. These translations, together with the accompanying commentaries, have significantly influenced the reception of Bion’s work within the German-speaking world. However, they contain numerous errors and shortcomings, which inevitably lead to a misunderstanding of Bion. This article critiques these translations from a technical standpoint and provides examples of significant content errors, aiming to clarify misconceptions and promote a more open and positive reception of Bion’s work in the German-speaking world.

The full text is available in German.