Yesterday, UPS dropped off my copy of Jung's "The Red Book." I finally broke down and bought it after a friend emailed me an Amazon gift certificate. These photos (from my iPhone) hardly do the book justice, but do provide an indication of the stupendous treasure I feel I have acquired.
Jung began work on his Red Book in 1913, soon after his acrimonious break with Freud. Jung felt himself slipping into psychosis and feared he was "doing a schizophrenia." Over the next 16 years, he cultivated direct experiences with his unconscious, recording his observations in an exquisitely rendered Gothic script, with beautifully illuminated illustrations.
The manuscript, bound in a red leather cover, sat in a bank vault for decades. Ten or so years ago, Jung's family finally consented to publication, and its release in 2009 created a sensation. The book, printed on museum-quality paper, is larger in area than the average Manhattan apartment.
I will have a lot more to say in future posts. In the meantime, enjoy the pics ...
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