Between Genius and Tragedy: A Psychoanalytic Portrait of Viktor Tausk (The History of Psychoanalysis Series)

Between Genius and Tragedy: A Psychoanalytic Portrait of Viktor Tausk offers a compelling intellectual biography and a nuanced psychoanalytic exploration of Tausk’s character and thought, tracing both his theoretical-clinical innovations and the personal struggles that shaped his life and enduring significance. Drawing on extensive archival research and newly documented material - including family sources, photographs, and testimonies made available by a direct descendant - Francisco Balbuena Rivera opens by asking why Tausk still matters.The book revisits the historical debate surrounding his figure, examining the divergent narratives constructed by Kurt R.Eissler and Paul Roazen and critically reassessing the interpretative frameworks through which his reputation has been shaped.Rather than imposing a definitive verdict, it analyses these competing accounts and invites readers to form their own judgment. The volume situates Tausk within his familial, cultural, and intellectual milieu