Ilse Grubrich-Simitis, 1998 (1936 – 2024)

Dr. Ilse Grubrich-Simities’ original and thought-provoking work created a broader and more nuanced understanding of Freud’s contributions. She meticulously analyzed the history of psychoanalytic thinking, particularly the early developments of Freud’s ideas. Her work includes the original analysis of Freud’s biography in the light of his study of “Moses and Monotheism.” As practicing and teaching psychoanalyst in Germany, Dr. Grubrich-Simities thorough research of Freud’s original manuscripts led her to advocate a return to Freud’s texts in order to fully comprehend the power and innovative force of his theories.

Lore Schacht in her review of Grubrich-Simities’ 1993 book Zuruck zu Freuds Texten, states “In our increasingly hectic and insecure times, characterized by unforeseeable change, where many aspects even of cultural and scientific life are manifestly at risk of being drawn into the maelstrom of transience, the publication of this unique book constitutes an intellectual event that will profoundly move and stimulate all who come into contact with it. By presenting and commenting on unexpected textual material –- namely, hitherto unknown manuscript’s of Freud’s -– Ilse Grubrich-Simities insistently urges us to stop for a while, collect ourselves, and listen carefully, for here she has provided us the opportunity for a novel encounter with Freud’s work- Freud writing, thinking, making corrections and additions, Freud reflecting, jotting down notes and ideas, meticulously crafting his manuscripts, pausing, taking up or rejecting older material –- the Freud whom the surprised reader meets here is Freud at work.”