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Marie Bonaparte: Freud’s Princess and Ambassador

In this contribution, Hanna Stouten, author of the first Dutch Bonaparte biography, sketches the problematic life of Marie Bonaparte (1882-1962). Freud played a key role in Bonaparte’s life, first as his patient and later as a psychoanalyst herself. He was a father-figure for her, bestowing self-confidence and also a profession, his profession. The activities which Marie developed in psychoanalysis start with her own analysis. The first 43 years display an overarching need for someone like Freud. The time with him was a rich period of expansion for her and was followed by post-Freudian years. In French and international psychoanalysis the princess acquired a reputation as one of the great Freud translators, as a networker and benefactor, and as rescuer of the Fliess letters. Her conflict with Jacques Lacan left a scar.

From Passionate Welcome to Critical Toleration: The History and Future of the Dutch Publications of Freud

The author describes from a publisher’s point of view the history of the Dutch Freud-publications in the twentieth century. The focus is on several publishers who pub¬lished the work of Freud for the Dutch market, or who took the initiative to do so, like S.C. van Doesburgh, De Wereldbibliotheek, De Bezige Bij and Uitgeverij Boom. The author clarifies how these publishers held key positions in the network of translators, edi¬tors, journalists and professionals like psychoanalysts. Three periods can be distinguished in the history of the Dutch Freud-publications: 1912-WW I, the introduction of Freud; WW I-1950, the popularization of Freud; and 1960-1990, the canonization and criticism of Freud. Several publications of Freud and their critical reception are described, to show how an author like Freud has found his way into the Netherlands, and how several players on the market contributed to this. Also, the new scientific edition of Freud (Works), ar¬ranged chronologically and being prepared now by Boom Publishers, is introduced. Is there a future for Freud in the Netherlands and Flanders in the twenty-first century?