Followed by Freud: My Private Notes (1912-1913)

Author: Lou Andreas-Salomé
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Correspondence with Sigmund Freud
Lou Andreas-Salomé to Sigmund Freud, September 27, 1912, G?ttingen
Since last autumn, when I was invited to the Weimar conference, I have never given up my psychoanalytic studies; and the deeper I delve into them, the more I am drawn to them. Now, by sheer luck, I have finally been given the opportunity to go to Vienna, where I can stay for a few months. Isn’t it? I can consult you in person, attend your lectures, and perhaps even apply to join your "Wednesday Society"? To devote myself entirely to the matters listed above is the sole purpose of my trip to Vienna.
Sigmund Freud to Lou Andreas-Salomé, October 1, 1912, Vienna
If you can come to Vienna, we will do our utmost to show you the current state and known aspects of psychoanalytic research. I have long said that your participation in the Weimar conference last year was a good omen.
Sigmund Freud to Lou Andreas-Salomé, November 4, 1912, Vienna
Given that you have informed me of your intention to attend Adler’s group discussions, I will take the liberty of introducing you to the current awkward situation here. There is no connection between the two societies, whether their goals are similar or divergent. People often have other engagements besides participating in Adler’s society, and we must prohibit any contact between the splinter group of Adler and our group; even our doctors are required to choose between Adler and us. This seems somewhat unpleasant, but we have no choice regarding the personal behavior of the splinter group. Regarding you, respected lady, I do not wish to impose such restrictions, but I merely ask that you consider the current situation—in the same way that one faces artificial schizophrenia, do not mention your situation here to Adler, and vice versa.
Sigmund Freud to Lou Andreas-Salomé, November 10, 1912, Vienna
If I have understood correctly, you would like to meet me in person. In fact, if it weren’t for the recent excessive workload and the need to invest considerable energy in establishing a new central journal, I would have already suggested this to you. I do not know if your lifestyle allows for discussions after 10 p.m., but my schedule cannot be any earlier. If you can honor my home with your visit at such a late hour, I would be very happy to see you safely home afterward. We can arrange a meeting on a suitable day on a Wednesday evening. I did not see you at yesterday’s lecture, and I was very pleased to hear that your absence was not due to attending the lecture on "The Male Protest." I have a bad habit of always looking at a particular person in the lecture hall when I teach, and yesterday my eyes were inexplicably fixed on your empty seat.
Sigmund Freud to Lou Andreas-Salomé, March 2, 1913, Vienna
I did not see you at the lecture on Saturday, so I had to reply to your kind letter in writing, which I apologize for! Since no one familiar was present, my speech even