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As previously suggested by the reviewer in this journal,1 the opening up to the world of the gold mine in Freud's correspondence has just begun, and it is my guess that this century will not see the publication of all of it. The latest ore brought to light may surprise many analysts, though Freud's interest in the arts and in literature is well known.
Throughout these letters Freud is obviously steeped in Zweig's problems, both personal and literary, particularly since Zweig had gone through analysis but never completed it, and since Zweig's son was still in analysis while the father corresponded with Freud. As the reader familiar with the literary family of Zweig might assume, there is some 'sibling rivalry' between Arnold and his brother, Stefan (who undoubtedly was the more important literary figure of the two) over Freud, although no letters or messages from Stefan to Freud are mentioned in this volume. On the other hand, it was not always easy for Freud to distinguish between the writings of these brothers, as has sometimes been the case for the general reader. The thoughtful reader will understand why Zweig changes his form of address from 'Herr Professor' to 'Herr Doktor' and, finally, to 'Herr Freud', which Freud accepted as a whim of his correspondent without even answering a point which Zweig specifically tried to make regarding the changes of Zweig's addressing the master.
Throughout the tone of the letters is cordial and often intimate; on the part of Zweig, often respectful but never submissive. There is also doubt that Zweig had the need to exhibit narcissistic tendencies, to which 'Vater' Freud responded as sympathetically as anyone. We learn a great deal about such contemporary writers as Thomas Mann, Bertold Brecht, Jacob Burckardt, as well as about Freud's own friends and students, Max Eitingon, Lou Andreas-Salomé, Siegfried Jacobsohn, Ernest Jones, Otto Rank, et al. Some are well known, others are not. Hence, any mention of such students as