ABSTRACT
The history of the British Society is a history of failed beginnings, a history of individual and institutional crises, and of successful struggle for survival through hard and complex times. It is difficult to imagine that Freud would have accepted an invitation to emigrate to any other country but England. Freud wished to remain in 'his Vienna', at 'his post', but he also wanted to protect Anna. Ernest Jones finally won the argument by telling him the story of the second officer of the Titanic who, when asked why he had left his ship, answered: 'I never left my ship — the ship left me'. From another point of view, Freud had reasons to feel ambivalent towards England, and especially the psychoanalytic movement in London. Finally, Freud had been very annoyed at the British Society's positive reception of Melanie Klein and her ideas, while, at the same time, he was offended by the critical and personal attacks on his daughter.
