Classics and the Western Canon discussion

Our discussion of Sigmund Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams is scheduled to begin on January 3, 2024. Happy New Year!

I have to admit up front that I know Freud only by reputation, which is largely informed by the pop culture cliches that riddle television and movies. This is my first time through the book, so I'm hoping that we have more knowledgeable participants to help us along the way. If not, we'll just try to look at it through the eyes of readers in the earily twentieth century when Freud's ideas were new.

Freud wrote an abridged version of The Interpretation of Dreams called On Dreams. We are not reading that one; we are taking on the original, longer work. I have the Oxford World Classics edition translated by Joyce Crick based on the first edition. Apparently Freud modified and edited the work several times, and I'm not sure if one edition is to be preferred over another, or if the various editions are even available in translation.

I am proposing 8 weeks for the discussion, so it breaks down to around 50 pages per week.

Jan 3. Foreword through I (e) The Distinctive Psychological Features of Dreams
Jan 10 I (f) through II
Jan 17 III through V (a)
Jan 24 V (b) through V (d)
Jan 31 VI (a) through VI (d)
Feb 7 VI (e) through VI (h)
Feb 14 VII (a) through VII (b)
Feb 21 VII (c) to the end of the work

Hopefully that lines up with other editions of the work.

Anything you want to share about the work or Freud himself, this is the thread for it! Or if you want to unburden yourself before some very amateur analysts, we'll be happy to give it a shot.

I have the Basic Books edition translated by James Strachey.

IoD first appeared in 1899, but Freud kept it 'up-to-date' throughout his career, resulting in 8 German editions, the last one in 1930. There were also three English editions. The Strachey translation is based on the 3rd English edition, published 1932. His foreword gives an overview of how the work evolved, and it seems the final version of the work is markedly different and much longer than the 1st edition, so it will be interesting to compare what Thomas is reading with what I am reading. Strachey says his translation is "in the nature of a 'Variorum' edition. An effort has been made to indicate, with dates, every alteration of substance introduced into the book since its first issue. Wherever material has been dropped or greatly modified in later editions, the cancelled passage or earlier version is given in a footnote."

From Portugal, I will try to follow the reading plan, as soon as the book arrives in the mail.
Happy to go on this adventure of discovering Freud.
To everyone, a year full of health!

Nelson wrote: "From Portugal, I will try to follow the reading plan, as soon as the book arrives in the mail.
Happy to go on this adventure of discovering Freud.
To everyone, a year full of health!"

Excellent! This is definitely an adventure of discovery for me too. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Cheers!

I have the Basic Books edition also, looking forward to joining.

I have the Basic Books/Strachey translation. I see no "Foreward" and only "prefaces" to the many editions. Clarification, please?
I have the ebook, and it's very impractical to follow the footnotes because once you go to one, you can't easily get back to where you were. I'll probably have to get an analog.

I have many thoughts before even beginning to read. Should I put them in "Discussion Schedule & Background" or wait till we have a dedicated "Background" thread?

The quote I included in my earlier post comes from the "Editor's Introduction" to the book. There is no Foreword. I apologize if my carelessness confused anybody.

Sam wrote: "I have many thoughts before even beginning to read. Should I put them in "Discussion Schedule & Background" or wait till we have a dedicated "Background" thread?.."

Sam - Please post your thoughts in this thread.

I read Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams in German last year. I will not read it again, but I will chime in from time to time. I have mixed feelings about it, I am curious how you perceive Freud's theories and methods.

Emil wrote: "I read Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams in German last year. I will not read it again, but I will chime in from time to time. I have mixed feelings about it, I am curious how you perceive Freud..."

I hope you will chime in. So far I'm finding him far more rigorous than I thought he would be. I look forward to your comments.