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Alexander Grinstein continues his excellent studies of Freud's dreams in Freud at the Crossroads, which supplements his earlier book, Sigmund Freud's Dreams. The methodology is similar. Grinstein describes Freud's manifest dreams as they appear in The Interpretation of Dreams and Freud's letters to Wilhelm Fliess. He then suggests associations in addition to those Freud stated, associations inferred from Freud's vast knowledge of literature and
art as well as from salient events in his life. Grinstein in the present study goes beyond the examination of Freud's dreams. He observes that “Freud's letters to Fliess often have the character of free associations” (p. 4). They can thus serve as clues to Freud's self-analysis. Grinstein supplements remarks in the letters with detailed descriptions of books Freud read and referred to in the letters or listed as his favorites. In this way he broadens and deepens our understanding of Freud, his personality, interests, and depth of knowledge. Although the author denies that he is analyzing Freud, he does just that in a skillful, discriminating way.
The years covered are 1892 to 1906, crucial years in Freud's personal and professional life, years Grinstein states, Freud entered a crossroad. The reader will recall Oedipus unknowingly slew his father Laius at a crossroads, a trifurcation in the myth, and then solved the riddle of the sphinx, became king, and married his mother Jocasta, events that led to tragedy. Grinstein does not refer to Oedipus's victories and eventual downfall, perhaps because Freud sustained the conqueror's stance and, through his self-analysis, avoided Oedipus's woeful punishment for gratifying unconscious forbidden wishes. Nevertheless, I suspect that Grinstein was alluding to Oedipus when he selected the book title. Manifestations of Freud's positive oedipal conflicts appear repeatedly in his dreams and letters. So too do related urges, conflicts, and resolutions—his unconscious homosexuality and rivalry