This memoir looks back on modernist poet H.D.'s analysis with Freud. It's comprised of two short sections, written at different times. But her analysis—that is, her time on the couch, with Freud himself there listening—wasn't just about recovering from an illness. It was a journey of discovery and poetic invention.
One recent commentator has called Tribute to Freud "an account of genuine collaboration." But one of the most interesting things about H.D.'s text is the way it paints Freud in a different light from the one we've gotten used to. Under H.D.'s gaze, he looks less like a punishing father or grumpy old man, and more like a great teacher.
And maybe even a true friend. Feeling optimistic now? Try these questions on for size.
- How does H.D.'s portrayal of Freud differ from the other portrayals of him you've encountered? (To start with, you might compare H.D.'s version of Freud to our own?) What does Tribute to Freud add to your understanding of what Freud himself—the man, not the legend—was like?
- How does H.D. characterize the relationship between her analysis and her poetry? Does anything about her characterization surprise you? (We love surprises.)