Letter from Sigmund Freud to Ernest Jones, January 15, 1924

15 January 1924
Vienna, IX. Berggasse 19

Dear Jones,

You heard correctly; I have been at work again since the second of this month, which makes me very content. On the one hand today's letter is to express my thanks and appreciation, and on the other hand my bewilderment at your behaviour concerning a specific point.

The first reactions refer to your introduction to the Sammlung, which is written so nicely and to the point, as one could actually only wish for and expect. Now I also have more hope than I had a few months ago to see it fixed in print.

The bewilderment concerns your statement that you still do not know the status of the four books which were taken over by the Press long ago, since Rank reserved the right for himself to deal with them at some point in the future, irrespective of the contract. Rank says, on the contrary, that the matter of the four books has long been settled, and if they are in any way excluded from the contract, it is only because there is no doubt about their status. I told you the same thing in my last letter, namely, that the rights for these books have been left to the Press for a corresponding further period. I therefore cannot understand what difficulties you are creating for yourself; I am tempted to say creating artificially through misunderstandings with which you then want to explain the difficulties of the Press. In short, I do not understand you.

I am glad to hear that you and your family are so well, and greet you cordially.

Yours

Freud