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This little book is a well written, simple exposition of the subject of repressed emotions. In fact it is really an entertaining presentation of the subject, which, with a few minor exceptions, can probably be easily appreciated by a lay reader. The author has chosen his illustrations well and presented his subject convincingly. Of particular interest is his analysis of Goncharofif's “Oblomoff.” This character in Russian literature lends itself admirably to psychoanalytic interpretation and Coriat has given the reader an excellent insight into the application of psychoanalysis to literature through his analysis of Oblomoff.
It is noted that Coriat attributes characteristic's to the unconscious which are not ordinarily supposed to belong to it. He cites instances of the increasing heterosexuality of dreams in the analysis of homosexuals and leads one to suppose that the unconscious can be educated and brought up to a higher standard. It would seem to the reviewer that this is rather an unforunate way to present the matter. The unconscious is best thought of, as the author acknowledges in another place, as the common possession of mankind. The variation and symbolization during an analysis, therefore, cannot be due to any fundamental change in the unconscious as such. Coriat, however, touches here upon a controversial field in psychoanalysis which Maeder brought into prominence in his discussion of the prospective function of the dream.
White