ABSTRACT
The Vienna Helene Deutsch came to was expressive and creative, yet highly civilized. It was characteristic of old Vienna that some of its leading representatives were talented people who had moved from the provinces. Helene had admired the Viennese spirit since at least the days of Madi’s diary, and she retained its special cultural vitality for the rest of her life. Helene had had to struggle for her freedom, and to a remarkable extent her achievement was an individual one. Helene passed her first examination on March 15, 1910, with the level of attainment marked “excellent success.” In retrospect she thought she would never have succeeded in passing her medical exams without the existence of the mutual exchanges at Viennese coffee-houses. The main recommendation Helene could make to alleviate Herman Lieberman’s unhappiness was to suggest that he devote himself to serious reading.
