ABSTRACT
Marjorie Brierley’s contributions to the International Journal of Psychoanalysis were twofold.
On the one hand, the contributions included 11 clinical and theoretical papers (1932–1969), most notably, “Affects in Theory and Practice” (1937); on the other hand, they included reviews of over 60 publications by leading psychoanalytic authors. These include her review of The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Writings of Sigmund Freud between 1954 and 1967 as the volumes were published. All of these excel in integrating a description of the specific volume under review with a broad thread of commentary that highlights the generative theoretical ideas and clinical experiences that engaged Freud and led to important revisions in psychoanalytic theory.
In considering an analyst’s contributions to psychoanalytic literature, the influence they may have exercised through their book reviews is seldom acknowledged or appreciated. From a contemporary perspective, Brierley’s reviews are a lens through which past analytic writing and thought, of both the author and reviewer, is brought to life. Brierley’s reviews are also a testament to her unwavering conviction that psychoanalysts should encourage independent and creative thinking in their colleagues. Differences of opinion should be tolerated in the interest of advancing psychoanalytic thought and clinical practice.
