Letter from Sigmund Freud to Franklin Hooper, September 4, 1924

Semmering
September 4, 1924

Dear Mr. Hooper

This is a case of an interesting contrast between American and European practices in publishing. Over here it would not occur to anyone that a book such as These Eventful Years,1 published by you, would require any publicity, least of all by its contributors. I will, however, comply with your wish and declare that in my opinion too this book is among the strangest, most deserving, and most informative works that has come my way during this century. I am studying it assiduously so as to orient myself in this world in which, considering my age, I shall not be spending much more time.

My complete admiration goes to the introductory essay by Garvin,2 and my warmest sympathy to the efforts to correct the opinions distorted by partisan passions about the origins of the war and the consequences of the peace.

I am very proud that you have granted psychoanalysis a chapter to itself. I hope that the future will justify your assessment. If my essay3 has turned out longer than you wished it to be, my excuse is that a shorter description of the difficult topic would have offered nothing comprehensible to the reader.

Yours sincerely
Freud