December 2, 2023 Live Zoom

Letters Between Wilhelm Reich and A.S. Neill

The letters between Wilhelm Reich and A.S. Neill, founder and head of England’s famous Summerhill School, are an extraordinary window into the personalities of two giants in their fields, and of much mid-20th century history from 1936-1957. Neill considered therapy with Reich had done more good for him than years of psychoanalysis, and changed his thinking about how to work with problem children to help get their personal conflicts out of the way of their healthy growth. Reich shared his excitement about new discoveries, and spoke to Neill with a warmth and a deep respect like no other student or associate after his arrival in the US. Neill was no yes man and could disagree with Reich and press the argument in a way none of the American students dared. Their lively exchange of views on everything from education, healthy childhood, marriage and sex life, and politics illuminate a deep friendship as well as the two individual men. In an age of zoom calls, emails and texts, revisit an era when typewritten letters crossing the ocean could define and sustain and extraordinary relationship.

Some sample letters will be circulated ahead of time and a few read from aloud at the webinar, which we can then discuss to compare notes on what insight each of us gains from them. Prof. James Strick will lead the discussion, having reviewed almost the entire correspondence this summer as part of the research for his scientific biography in process of Wilhelm Reich.