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Roazen states that “[t]his is not a full-scale biography of Victor Tausk but rather an examination of his life in relation to psychoanalysis.” It is likely that most psychoanalytic biographies should be considered as just this—psychoanalytic essays written about a particular life rather than full biographical accounts. This distinction is a vital one that I only touch upon here.
The author's thesis can be given briefly. Roazen believes that Tausk's suicide should in large part be attributed to Freud's callous rejection of him. He feels that Freud was envious of Tausk's creativity in psychoanalysis and did not feel comfortable enough with him to accept his request for psychoanalytic treatment. Instead, Freud sent Tausk to Helene Deutsch who was Tausk's junior by five years. Tausk's analysis was consumed by talk about Freud, and Helene Deutsch's analysis with Freud likewise reflected her preoccupation with the problems presented by Tausk's analysis. The situation became unworkable and Freud suggested that Deutsch terminate treatment, which she did. Four months later Tausk simultaneously shot and hanged himself and sent a suicide note to Freud.
This book is essentially a clinical analysis of the Tausk-Freud relationship, enlivened by many bits of gossip about the Vienna circle. A major figure, as depicted by Roazen, was Lou Andreas-Salomé, who had an affair with Tausk. Roazen describes a triadic relationship, with Freud vicariously participating in the affair and Tausk finding a way to a father figure via his sexual encounter.
Considered as a clinical investigation the book passes muster, although without distinction. On one hand, one wonders at how a nonpsychoanalyst is able to utilize analytic concepts with facility; this occurs so frequently that one might doubt the necessity for formal education in psychoanalysis. On the other hand, Roazen's clinical formulations are lacking in the precise observation and detail that bring a clinical report to life; sadly enough, this