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Writing an introductory text on Bion is no easy task, though Nicola Abel-Hirsch is well placed to take up the challenge. A training analyst at the British Society, she talks and publishes widely on Bion having previously authored ‘Bion: 365 Quotes’ (Abel-Hirsch, 2019). While her new book, ‘Bion: An Introduction’, is designed for new readers, there is plenty of value to those experienced in Bion’s work, featuring concise summaries of his papers, insights from contemporary thinkers, and engaging anecdotes and commentaries. Among the many introductions to Bion, such as those by Leon Grinberg, Donald Meltzer, Gérard Bléandonu, and Neville and Joan Symington, Abel-Hirsch’s book stands out for its compactness and directness, making it a good entry point. The book reasserts Bion’s Kleinian foundations and it places his concept of container/contained at the center of his theoretical development. By taking a biographical approach, Abel-Hirsch traces the evolution of Bion’s thought, structuring the book chronologically to weave together his external biography, writings, and some conjecture about how his ideas developed over time.
Abel-Hirsch works to keep a threaded narrative throughout the book, going backwards and forwards to help illustrate biographically where Bion might have been in his intellectual journey. A particular attention is given to the traumatic impact of his war time experience which Abel-Hirsch uses to explain his theoretical and emotional journey. This works well, as it grounds him, adding a relatable narrative inviting readers in who might otherwise be discouraged by his more abstract writings. It also helps to avoid the idealisation often attached to writings on Bion.
With this reading you get a sense of Bion grappling with what it means to hold onto something in the face of great strain, whether it be in the intensity of the consulting room or in the face of war time conflict. It made me think of his attempts to maintain links inside himself, the difficult