Mortal Secrets

A lively and accessible portrait of a major figure - Sigmund Freud - and the unprecedented era of creativity that shaped his ideas

Some cities are like stars. When the conditions are right, they ignite, and they burn with such fierce intensity that they outshine all their rivals. From 1890 and through the early years of the 20th century, Vienna became a dazzling beacon. The city was powered by an unprecedented number of extraordinary people - artists Klimt and Schiele, thinkers such as Theodor Herzl, and fashion icons like the glamorous Empress Sisi. Conversations in coffee houses and salons spurred advances in almost every area of human endeavour: science, politics, philosophy, and the arts. The influence of early 20th century Vienna is still detectable all around us - but the place where it is at its strongest is in our heads. The way we think about ourselves has been largely determined by Viennas most celebrated resident: Sigmund Freud. Mortal Secrets is the story of Freuds life, Viennas golden age, and an essential reappraisal of Freuds legacy.

Tallis clear-eyed judicious analysis is the best Ive read - about the city and the manWilliam Boyd

Brilliantly rich and vividThe Times, Books of the Year

Fascinating... the best book I have read on Freud and VienneTLS, Books of the Year

Excellent and entertainingAmanda Craig