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The Covid Trail is a collection of essays reflecting (psychoanalytically) on the lived experience of pandemic. Most of the authors have been active for some time with OPUS—an Organisation Promoting Understanding in Society, rehearsing methods of research and lines of thought well suited to exploring the psychology of a large-scale societal “event”.
The contributors offer a blend of personal narratives, psychological insights, and sociocultural analysis. It starts with direct, uncompromising visual and poetic expressions of pandemic life—the paintings on the cover and at the start of each section, and a first chapter poem (by Halina Brunning) that recalls the shock “when the human race has run out of power to control its destiny” (p. 4). The book stands out for—and is fully at home in—its psychodynamic approach, exploring not just the external events of the pandemic, but also the internal psychological processes and changes it has triggered. It offers a unique window into the collective psyche during this foreseen but unexpected crisis, examining themes like loss, mourning, resilience, and the transformation of personal and societal dynamics. It is a persuasive example of the profound understanding and practical implications that can be derived from this particular method of social science research.
The Covid Trail is edited by Halina Brunning and Olya Khaleelee, who clearly approached the task with both generosity and clarity of purpose: this is
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a volume that contains so much that could have been diverted by rage, depression, or helplessness. Instead, the reflective and analytical gaze is steady throughout: it is a remarkable exercise in the study and interpretation of contemporary social experience.
The book is structured into four parts, each focusing on different aspects of the pandemic's impact: the initial shock and disorientation; psychic and physical impacts on sufferers and their carers; the broader soci