Book description
Melanie Klein's writings, particularly on infant development and
psychosis, have been crucial both to theoretical work and to clinical
practice. Envy and Gratitude collects her writings from 1946
until her death in 1960, including two papers published posthumously.
Klein's major paper, 'Notes on Some Schizoid Mechanisms', introduces
the concept of the paranoid-schizoid position, in which the infant ego
splits, projects and introjects its objects - most particularly the
mother - during the first few months of life. 'Envy and Gratitude' her
last major work, introduces her theory of primary envy.
Melanie Klein was born in Vienna in 1882, the youngest of four
children. At about fourteen she decided to study medicine. With her
brother's help she learnt enough Greek and Latin to pass into the
Gymnasium but her early engagement and subsequent marriage in 1903
brought a halt to her plans. Years later, discovering a booklet on
dreams by Freud, she turned her attentions to psychoanalysis. At this
time she was living in Budapest and began her own analysis with
Ferenczi, who encouraged her interest in the analysis of children. In
1921 she moved to Berlin to continue her work with children, supported
by Dr Karl Abraham, In 1926 she moved to London where she worked and
lived until her death in 1960.
