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This is an important book for many reasons. In the 27 years of their relationship and correspondence with one another - interrupted by the years of World War II (WWII) between 1940 and 1945 - the Jung-Neumann correspondence provides a view of the centrality of each man in the formulation of the other's thinking as depth psychologist, as Jew, as Swiss-German, as principals in the foundation of an international organization and institutes of analytical psychology, and the formulation and publication of their respective works which played a central role in defining the field of analytical psychology. In the 58 published letters from Neumann to Jung and the 39 letters from Jung to Neumann during that period, we get an intimate view of the detailed and impassioned care, curiosity and respect for each other's reflections and thinking along with their emotional engagement. In a number of senses, each was an intellectual and emotional razor strap for the other. In the age of email communication it would be all too easy to overlook that this was ‘real letter writing’, carefully crafted and reflected upon in most cases, and put into an envelope and mailed - no quick dashing off of half-digested thoughts and responses - often followed by long-anticipated curiosity, excitement and anxiety surrounding receptivity by the other.
The letters also fill in a number of gaps about things known and some unknown in the history of each man personally and in the field as a whole. For example Jung's preference of Neumann over James Kirsch as his spokesperson/representative on things Jewish comes through as well as the personal tension between Neumann and Kirsch; details of the Eranos conferences as a major crucible of Jungian thought along with the politics associated with the struggle for legitimized authority and ascension within the field of analytical psychology, as well as some new insights into Jung's struggle to hold his own authority within the institutions generated in his name. Car