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The following letters were written by Dr. Theodor Reik to a young man in some distress, who was searching for much-needed advice and, hopefully, a ‘rescue.’ Such requests, addressed to prominent psychoanalysts, are not uncommon, but Dr. Reik's own response was an individualized and revealing one. His letters offer a particular view of his personality and idiosyncratic expression, which do not come across as clearly in his published writings.
The correspondence covers a span of more than seven years. Although we do not see the letters addressed to Reik, his own responses testify to a generosity of effort and his sincere, skilled endeavor to convey psychoanalytic knowledge and help. Reik writes in everyday language but with some interesting influx of psychoanalytic terms. He establishes a mode in communication that transcends the bare words and conveys his own reach toward the unconscious. His use—in the service of psychoanalysis—of humor, aphorism, gentle sarcasm, and human inspiration are well illustrated. It is not far fetched to say that Dr. Reik was attempting to send some small measure of psychoanalytic therapy through the mails.
The correspondence includes twenty-two letters from Dr. Reik, of which eight are here reproduced. Those omitted are the letters of lesser significance or relevance to Dr. Reik's personality or to psychoanalysis. The letters are published with only minor deletions and changes of grammar or wording. Places, names, etc. have been disguised.—editor
401 West End Avenue
New York 24
June 28, 1960
Dear Mr. X:
Your letter reached me a few hours before … leaving for Europe. Allow me to be very brief on account of this. … As you must know, I am an infidel Jew and, as Freud, an atheist; yet [I am] respectful for other people's religious convictions if they are sincere. …
With good wishes
Sincerely yours,