CLASH: Hysteria, Graphic Freud!

“What a wonderful book…Whether you know Freud or not, this will speak to your inner shrink” – Rachel Cooke

Sigmund Freud is widely known as the ‘father of psychoanalysis’ and his vast contribution to the knowledge we now obtain on the complexity of the human brain. Hysteria is a graphic novel by Richard Appignanesi and illustrated by Oscar Zarate. The novel explored the errors, first steps and many frustrations Freud faced within his career.

It embodies and tells the story of Freud’s early research and training in neurology, as well as, the pivotal point in time where Freud worked with Jean-Martin Charcot, a french neurologist, and the opening of his therapeutic practice Vienna. The intricate monochrome illustrations by Zarate which accompany the novel adds an element if emotion to the novel as we witness Freud contemplating a series of the initial stages of his career.

Hysteria takes a different approach to teaching the history of psychoanalysis, and presents this information in a primarily visual form.

The novel encompasses both an educational aspect as well as a fun and quirky vibe to it which makes this novel a must read! Don’t miss out!