Minna's Story: The Secret Love of Doctor Sigmund Freud

For many years, there have been speculations made about the nature of the relationship between Sigmund Freud and his sister-in-law, Minna Bernays. It has long been suggested that they were lovers and confidantes and even that Minna conceived Freud's child and underwent an abortion. These theories have been fueled from valid sources, such as Carl Jung, who stated that Minna, in a fit of distress, confessed a sexual relationship with Freud. Freudian scholars appear divided on the issue of the nature of their relationship.

This work must be considered fact-based fiction -- drawn from actual events, dates, and circumstances taken from Freud's letters and biographies but with fictional dialogue. Living in Vienna just blocks from the old Freud household while researching this book, the author retraced the documented travels of Freud and Minna, trying to provide authentic details, down to hotel names, whenever possible.

One thing is certain. Minna Bernays did live with the Freud family for many years and was working closely with Freud for at least ten of those years translating, proofreading, and editing manuscripts, as well as accompanying him in travel.

Because of the intimate nature of their relationship, Minna has been all but obliterated from Sigmund Freud's family history. Certain documents and pictures are sealed until well after the year 2000 in accordance with the wishes of Anna Freud, his daughter. The truth about Minna and Freud's relationship remains with these documents.