What do you think?
Rate this book
Sigmund Freud
"Steadman's text here is as witty as his drawings, both illustrating not only Freud's classification of jokes, but also the events of Freud's life "
--The North Carolina Review of Books "Earlier chapters of Freud's life, characterized by intellectual as well as physical vigorousness aided by the 19th-century 'miracle drug' of cocaine, give the illustrator rich material to work with "
--Open Culture One genius takes on another In what is a thoroughly atypical biography, Ralph Steadman examines Freud using his 1905 book The Joke and Its Relation to the Unconscious to illustrate his points with 75 illustrations The result is a masterful interplay of text and illustration, visual and verbal puns, and unexpected insight Sigmund Freud bursts defiantly and gleefully beyond the bounds of orthodox biography It is a wildly humorous exercise in bending, stretching and speculating on the activities of the so-called Father of Psychoanalysis Ralph Steadman wields his shrewd wit and fierce pen to highlight the ebbs and tides of Freud's life and career from early childhood to the moment of death But there's a twist Rich illustrations and witty text work hand in hand to transform each scene into a "joking situation," which the artist hilariously examines according to the techniques wielded by Freud himself in his 1905 book on humor and the unconscious mind The result is a fantastic Freudian festival of visual and verbal puns, unexpected insights, and sheer intellectual enjoyment Originally published in hardcover in 1979, released in paperback in 1997, and reprinted numerous times since then, we are presenting it again to remind buyers that Freud has not and will not leave the unconscious mind of the public (and he would likely have something to say about what books they buy) Sigmund Freud is superbly illustrated with more than 50 major drawings and 25 vignettes by a renowned master of the pen It remains one of the most original illustrated books of our times and a Ralph Steadman classic
--The North Carolina Review of Books "Earlier chapters of Freud's life, characterized by intellectual as well as physical vigorousness aided by the 19th-century 'miracle drug' of cocaine, give the illustrator rich material to work with "
--Open Culture One genius takes on another In what is a thoroughly atypical biography, Ralph Steadman examines Freud using his 1905 book The Joke and Its Relation to the Unconscious to illustrate his points with 75 illustrations The result is a masterful interplay of text and illustration, visual and verbal puns, and unexpected insight Sigmund Freud bursts defiantly and gleefully beyond the bounds of orthodox biography It is a wildly humorous exercise in bending, stretching and speculating on the activities of the so-called Father of Psychoanalysis Ralph Steadman wields his shrewd wit and fierce pen to highlight the ebbs and tides of Freud's life and career from early childhood to the moment of death But there's a twist Rich illustrations and witty text work hand in hand to transform each scene into a "joking situation," which the artist hilariously examines according to the techniques wielded by Freud himself in his 1905 book on humor and the unconscious mind The result is a fantastic Freudian festival of visual and verbal puns, unexpected insights, and sheer intellectual enjoyment Originally published in hardcover in 1979, released in paperback in 1997, and reprinted numerous times since then, we are presenting it again to remind buyers that Freud has not and will not leave the unconscious mind of the public (and he would likely have something to say about what books they buy) Sigmund Freud is superbly illustrated with more than 50 major drawings and 25 vignettes by a renowned master of the pen It remains one of the most original illustrated books of our times and a Ralph Steadman classic
118 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
14 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Steadman
153 books264 followersRalph Steadman (born Wallasey, May 15, 1936) is a British cartoonist and caricaturist.
Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales, Steadman attended Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (high school), Abergele, East Ham Technical College and the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts during the 1960s, doing freelance work for Punch, Private Eye, the Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Rolling Stone during this time.
Steadman is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books. Awards that he has won for his work include the Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for Alice in Wonderland, the American Society of Illustrators' Certificate of Merit, the W H Smith Illustration Award for I Leonardo, the Dutch Silver Paintbrush Award for Inspector Mouse, the Italian Critica in Erba Prize for That's My Dad, the BBC Design Award for postage stamps, the Black Humour Award in France, and several Designers and Art Directors Association Awards. He was voted Illustrator of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1979.
Steadman had a long partnership with the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, drawing pictures for several of his articles and books. He accompanied Thompson to the Kentucky Derby for an article for the magazine Scanlan's, to the Honolulu Marathon for the magazine Running, and illustrated both Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Much of Steadman's artwork revolves around Raoul Duke-style caricatures of Thompson: bucket hats, cigarette holder and aviator sunglasses.
Steadman appears on the second disc of the Criterion Collection Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD set, in a documentary called "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision", which was made by the BBC in 1978, of Thompson planning the tower and cannon that his ashes were later blasted out of. The cannon was atop a 153-ft. tower of Thompson's fist gripping a peyote button; Thompson demands that Steadman gives the fist two thumbs, "Right now."
As well as writing and illustrating his own books and Thompson's, Steadman has worked with writers including Ted Hughes and Brian Patten, and also illustrated editions of Alice In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Animal Farm and most recently, Fahrenheit 451.
Among the British public, Steadman is well known for his illustrations for the catalogues of the off-licence chain Oddbins. He also designed the labels for Flying Dog beer and Cardinal 'Spiced' Zin', which was banned in Ohio for Steadman's "disturbing" interpretation of a Catholic cardinal on its label.
Steadman also illustrates Will Self's column in The Independent newspaper. Johnny Depp's anthology of songs, "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys" (2006) surprisingly contains two contributions from Steadman. He sings lead on "Little Boy Billee", and sings backing vocals on Eliza Carthy's song "Rolling Sea". Depp played Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Steadman currently lives with his wife in Kent, England.
Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales, Steadman attended Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (high school), Abergele, East Ham Technical College and the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts during the 1960s, doing freelance work for Punch, Private Eye, the Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Rolling Stone during this time.
Steadman is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books. Awards that he has won for his work include the Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for Alice in Wonderland, the American Society of Illustrators' Certificate of Merit, the W H Smith Illustration Award for I Leonardo, the Dutch Silver Paintbrush Award for Inspector Mouse, the Italian Critica in Erba Prize for That's My Dad, the BBC Design Award for postage stamps, the Black Humour Award in France, and several Designers and Art Directors Association Awards. He was voted Illustrator of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1979.
Steadman had a long partnership with the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, drawing pictures for several of his articles and books. He accompanied Thompson to the Kentucky Derby for an article for the magazine Scanlan's, to the Honolulu Marathon for the magazine Running, and illustrated both Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Much of Steadman's artwork revolves around Raoul Duke-style caricatures of Thompson: bucket hats, cigarette holder and aviator sunglasses.
Steadman appears on the second disc of the Criterion Collection Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD set, in a documentary called "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision", which was made by the BBC in 1978, of Thompson planning the tower and cannon that his ashes were later blasted out of. The cannon was atop a 153-ft. tower of Thompson's fist gripping a peyote button; Thompson demands that Steadman gives the fist two thumbs, "Right now."
As well as writing and illustrating his own books and Thompson's, Steadman has worked with writers including Ted Hughes and Brian Patten, and also illustrated editions of Alice In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Animal Farm and most recently, Fahrenheit 451.
Among the British public, Steadman is well known for his illustrations for the catalogues of the off-licence chain Oddbins. He also designed the labels for Flying Dog beer and Cardinal 'Spiced' Zin', which was banned in Ohio for Steadman's "disturbing" interpretation of a Catholic cardinal on its label.
Steadman also illustrates Will Self's column in The Independent newspaper. Johnny Depp's anthology of songs, "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys" (2006) surprisingly contains two contributions from Steadman. He sings lead on "Little Boy Billee", and sings backing vocals on Eliza Carthy's song "Rolling Sea". Depp played Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Steadman currently lives with his wife in Kent, England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 6, 2012
This was spectacular - though short. I read it in one evening at a diner, while constantly annoying whomever was sitting next to me at the counter about it.
There are two huge points that make this book awesome:
1) Written and Illustrated by Ralph Steadman, who is most famous for is illustrations for Hunter S. Thompson books, but who is also a private scholar of Freud's work.
2) The book is about Freud's life, but in the context of a little-known book of the psychologist's - "The Psychopathology of Jokes and Joke-Telling"
So, the whole thing is about Freud, his life, and his sense of humor - accompanying wonderful pen-and-ink illustrations by Mr. Steadman.
This is recommended for fans of either Freud or Steadman, and a must for fans of both.
There are two huge points that make this book awesome:
1) Written and Illustrated by Ralph Steadman, who is most famous for is illustrations for Hunter S. Thompson books, but who is also a private scholar of Freud's work.
2) The book is about Freud's life, but in the context of a little-known book of the psychologist's - "The Psychopathology of Jokes and Joke-Telling"
So, the whole thing is about Freud, his life, and his sense of humor - accompanying wonderful pen-and-ink illustrations by Mr. Steadman.
This is recommended for fans of either Freud or Steadman, and a must for fans of both.
August 17, 2019
A clever, witty and beautifully illustrated introduction to Freud's life and work.
August 19, 2021
Me gustó, se me escaparon varios conceptos.
June 16, 2009
The splatter ID of Steadman is well suited to Freud's thought on humour and his dry jokes.
September 19, 2014
A lot more fun that I would have expected from a book about Freud - wonderful artwork a bonus!
Read
July 22, 2008Good!
January 20, 2019
Splendid little book. Love Ralph Steadman. Even if you dont like the words, Steadman's drawings are alone worth 5 stars. I could go back 1000 times and look at the drawings and always find something new. Something I missed. I think you must be a lover and understander of Steadman to appreciate this work of genius. For me, I LOVED it!!
Happy Reading.....
Happy Reading.....
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews