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Vienna Triangle
A young woman named Kate explores her historical connection to the development of Freudian theory and the early beginnings of psychoanalysis in this mystery rooted in the past. Based on real facts concerning the pivotal figures in the development of modern psychology, the complicated lives of Sigmund Freud, his colleague Helene Deutsch, and his rival Victor Tausk are carefully reconstructed to show how their interpersonal intricacies may have led to conspiracy and deceit in the writing of early 20th-century history. When Kate realizes that Tausk was her grandfather, she begins to uncover the details around his mysterious suicide. Only as Kate uncovers the truth is she able to make important decisions about her own future.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
14 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Webster
14 books6 followersBrenda Webster was born in New York City, educated at Swarthmore College, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her Ph.D. She is a freelance writer, critic, and translater who splits her time between Berkeley and Rome, and she is the current president of PEN West.
Her latest novel, VIENNA TRIANGLE, explores the loves and rivalries in Sigmund Freud's inner circle that led to the death of his disciple Viktor Tausk.
Webster has written two controversial and oft-anthologized critical studies, Yeats: A Psychoanalytic Study (Stanford University Press) and Blake's Prophetic Psychology (Macmillan), and translated poetry from the Italian for The Other Voice (Norton) and The Penguin Book of Women Poets. She is co-editor of the journals of the abstract expressionist painter (and Webster's mother) Ethel Schwabacher, Hungry for Light: The Journal of Ethel Schwabacher (Indiana, 1993). She is the author of two previous novels, Sins of the Mothers (Baskerville, 1993) and Paradise Farm (SUNY, 1999), and a memoir, The Last Good Freudian (Holmes and Meier, 2000). The Modern Language Association recently accepted for publication Webster's translation of Edith Bruck's Holocaust novel Lettera alla Madre.
Her latest novel, VIENNA TRIANGLE, explores the loves and rivalries in Sigmund Freud's inner circle that led to the death of his disciple Viktor Tausk.
Webster has written two controversial and oft-anthologized critical studies, Yeats: A Psychoanalytic Study (Stanford University Press) and Blake's Prophetic Psychology (Macmillan), and translated poetry from the Italian for The Other Voice (Norton) and The Penguin Book of Women Poets. She is co-editor of the journals of the abstract expressionist painter (and Webster's mother) Ethel Schwabacher, Hungry for Light: The Journal of Ethel Schwabacher (Indiana, 1993). She is the author of two previous novels, Sins of the Mothers (Baskerville, 1993) and Paradise Farm (SUNY, 1999), and a memoir, The Last Good Freudian (Holmes and Meier, 2000). The Modern Language Association recently accepted for publication Webster's translation of Edith Bruck's Holocaust novel Lettera alla Madre.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 16, 2013
Freud in the Middle
Vienna Triangle, by Brenda Webster, is an extremely well-researched historical novel. Although it is set in the present day, relationships among the members of Freud’s inner circle are explored through interviews, diaries, and the recollections of people who were there. I found this book fascinating, although I have no special background in psychology and have not read very much of Freud’s own work. Before I read this novel, my knowledge of early analysts such as Helene Deutsch, Viktor Tausk, and Lou Andreas-Salomé was nonexistent. While there is much that is fictionalized in this book, I found by cross-checking with Google searches that the historical characters are all real and that the novel does not change the historical record; it simply goes beyond it, the way Midrash goes beyond the stories of the Torah. Thus, I learned a lot from this book in addition to being entertained by it.
Vienna Triangle, by Brenda Webster, is an extremely well-researched historical novel. Although it is set in the present day, relationships among the members of Freud’s inner circle are explored through interviews, diaries, and the recollections of people who were there. I found this book fascinating, although I have no special background in psychology and have not read very much of Freud’s own work. Before I read this novel, my knowledge of early analysts such as Helene Deutsch, Viktor Tausk, and Lou Andreas-Salomé was nonexistent. While there is much that is fictionalized in this book, I found by cross-checking with Google searches that the historical characters are all real and that the novel does not change the historical record; it simply goes beyond it, the way Midrash goes beyond the stories of the Torah. Thus, I learned a lot from this book in addition to being entertained by it.
August 14, 2009
What is there to say about this book, and its strange effect on the reader? To be perfectly honest, Vienna Triangle is by no means flawless. The comingling of several points of view, often within sentences of each other, brings unnecessary confusion to the narration. The psycho-analytic speak, at times, grows both repetitive and meaningless to the layman's eye. Some of the plot turns, including Kate's disregard for her original dissertation once she unsurfaces a buried secret about her family, rings false. And the conclusion, the ambiguity of the protagonist's actions, so typical of every novel striving for literary merit, is frankly unsatisfying.
However, in spite of its shortcomings, Vienna Triangle remains a captivating experience. It offers a well-researched historical novel for anyone looking to delve into the time of the so-called analytics, and anyone who is interested in the effects of history on its devotees. Kate is a mesmerizing narrator, and even though the book flips easily between points of view, hers is the story we are interested in. When the book was over, I wanted to stay there, for there were mysteries yet to be uncovered, mysteries that will probably never be revealed.
However, in spite of its shortcomings, Vienna Triangle remains a captivating experience. It offers a well-researched historical novel for anyone looking to delve into the time of the so-called analytics, and anyone who is interested in the effects of history on its devotees. Kate is a mesmerizing narrator, and even though the book flips easily between points of view, hers is the story we are interested in. When the book was over, I wanted to stay there, for there were mysteries yet to be uncovered, mysteries that will probably never be revealed.
June 16, 2012
This book really needed an editor! All of the typos and grammatical problems were very distracting.
December 24, 2017
Bien documentado, de una historia conocida e interesante , la de Víctor Tausk con Sigmund Freud y Helen Deustch
Como novela me parece muy limitada , los personajes creados no se sostienen , los diálogos no son buenos , es bastante aburrida
Como novela me parece muy limitada , los personajes creados no se sostienen , los diálogos no son buenos , es bastante aburrida
January 28, 2022
Tedious
It was a struggle to keep reading. The characters were dull. I found myself not interested in all of the dialogue. I was disappointed by Kate's relationships with her mother, Keith and Helene.
It was a struggle to keep reading. The characters were dull. I found myself not interested in all of the dialogue. I was disappointed by Kate's relationships with her mother, Keith and Helene.
May 10, 2020
I would give this pseud garbage zero stars if I could.
September 5, 2012
I could not get more than a few pages into this book... too many grammar and sentence structure issues drove me away. I feel badly, because it seemed like it may have been an interesting read- but I got lost and confused within too many sentences.
February 24, 2013
I enjoyed the story, although there was a number of improbable coincidences. Although I recognize it as fiction, it did give me a better understanding of the development of psychoanalysis/mental health care development at that time.
March 4, 2012
Lovely story but there was a point at the end that the same issue dragged to long in my opinion but otherwise it would have been a perfect 5 stars.
May 29, 2012
This book really dragged for me.
March 11, 2012
Tried it for 50 pages. Life's too short.
March 24, 2012
Did I pay for this book? I sure hope not.
May 15, 2012
Interesting look into a part of Freud's life and some of his contemporaries'.
May 19, 2012
I did not really enjoy this book although I have a great interest in psychology. Did not enjoy the readers style of writing
June 5, 2012
Expected a much more interesting and informative read, considering the subject matter.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews