Interpretation of Murder

by Jed Rubenfeld

Book Overview

International Bestseller
#1 U.K. Bestseller
The Wall Street Journal Bestseller
Los Angeles Times Bestseller

In the summer of 1909, Sigmund Freud arrived by steamship in New York Harbor for a short visit to America. Though he would live another thirty years, he would never return to this country. Little is known about the week he spent in Manhattan, and Freud's biographers have long speculated...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312427050
• ISBN13: 9780312427054
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Masters of Psychoanalysis in Manhattan!

A murder mystery with insight into psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud and his colleagues in the 1900's, each character has been psychoanalyzed and though this is a peice of fiction - i must say that the accounts are dazzling! I loved the portrayel of the 1900's Manhattan (which i haven't seen unfortunately in real life!) with the details around the the construction of the skyscrapers, the high society, the mental asylums and real characters bound together in this crafty yet educating work... I give it 5 stars

Excellent mystery

An excellent period mystery set to coincide with a visit to America by Freud. The twists and turns are numerous and the red herrings are plentiful, but the bounds of credibility are never stretched so far that the story loses its attraction. A lot of fun, especially the second half when the action really picks up.

Delicious Entertainment

Filled with fun period detail and sly ironic humor this a novel with ideas. But when the action takes off you're on the edge of your seat -- with a spectacular action set piece. A marvelous hero and a delightful heroine to root for as well. Of all the historical thrillers in the wake of The Alienist this is the most fun.

An Interesting Mix of Historical and Fictional Characters

An almost entirely (but not quite) ficticious murder mystery. The non ficticious parts of the story come from Sigmund Freud's visit to America in 1909. He stayed in new your for a week, at the Hotel Manhattan. Then he travelled to Clark University to deliver some lectures and receive an honorary degree. After he returned to Europe he referred to the Americans as 'savages' and never returned. Starting with this thesis, Mr. Rubenfeld has carefully researched the New York City of the time - even down to the color of the taxi's - and created a story of a murder most foul that had it happened might have caused Dr. Freud's thinking. The murder is fiction, but it has a basis in two actual situations, one ocurring a few months before Freud arrived, the other a case that Freud actually described (although it took place in Europe). For a first novel, this is a compelling, well written book that incorporates a list of historical characters with the fiction. A very enjoyable read, and you learn a bit of history.