If you would like the chance to read Freud

Freud’s rival, Carl Jung, was the first to intimate that Freud had had an affair with his wife’s sister, Minna Bernays. Jung claimed that Minna gave him this information directly and people were quick to dismiss it, claiming that Jung had ulterior motives. Fast forward to 2006. A Swiss hotel register from 1898 was discovered signed by Freud and a guest that was not his wife. Suddenly the ‘rumor’ of an affair became a possibility and Freud’s Mistress by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman is a recreation of this supposed love affair.
Freud’s Mistress is told from the perspective of Minna Bernays, sister to Martha, Sigmund Freud’s wife. Minna has been employed as a governess or ladies companion. When she loses her job, she goes to stay with her sister Martha, her husband and their seven children. To prevent being a financial burden to the Freud’s, Minna assumes the daily care of six of the Freud children, as her Martha recovers from childbirth. It is during this time that Minna, who is the more intellectual of the sisters, becomes close to Sigmund. He appears to respect and value her opinions and treats Minna completely differently than his wife, whom he treats like a servant. Minna quickly becomes enamored with Sigmund on more than one level, so it’s easy to see how an affair could start.
These are the only facts that are known about Minna. It is true that in the late 19th century, women did not have many choices in life. Minna’s options were limited. She could either marry or become a ladies companion or a governess. exploring business karen collins Freud is also know to have been quite the magnetic charmer, so the reader can see how Minna could be charmed by him. Mack and Kaufman state that there is no solid proof Minna and Sigmund had a sexual relationship, but it was rumored during their lives and in 2006 proof was found that they had stayed at a Swiss hotel for several days as husband and wife.
In some ways, I found the story wonderful. exploring business karen collins The authors evoked fin-de-siecle Vienna in sights, sounds, smells and flavors; reading the book is an immersive experience. You could feel Minna’s confusion as she lives with the Freud’s struggling with the right thing to do. With that said, the book does drag in places. I don’t doubt that an affair with her sister’s husband is something Minna would agonize over but at times Mack and Kaufman got caught up in that. I loved the ending but all in all felt Freud’s Mistress could have been a little shorter.
If you would like the chance to read Freud’s Mistress and form your own opinions, I’m giving away a copy. Please tell me why you want to enter. One entry per person. US residents ONLY. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, October 2 at Midnight EST.
This book review is included in a tour by TLC Book Tours . I received a copy of the book in return exploring business karen collins for an honest review, which you can read above. Want to know what others have to say about Freud’s Mistress ? St op by another blog on the tour !
Thanks, Heather. I did enjoy the book overall but wanted some minor tweaks
I would like to read this book as I’ve been on a historical kick of reading about the women behind some of the most famous men. I find it interesting to see whether or not these women had some influence on their works. Thanks for the giveaway exploring business karen collins
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