Who was Melanie Klein and how did she come to have such an impact on the psychoanalytical movement on a worldwide canvas?
She was born in Vienna, the youngest of four children of a Viennese medical practitioner, and it seems clear that the atmosphere she grew up in encouraged her intellectual development, which was also greatly helped by her favourite sister and brother, both of whom sadly died prematurely. Their illnesses, together with her father’s profession, must have contributed to Melanie Klein’s wish to study medicine, and when that was not possible, to become interested in therapy. She was married to Arthur Klein in 1903. Her husband was an industrial chemist and his work necessitated travelling around, living in small towns. She missed the intellectual stimulation of Vienna and she was not happy. When in 1910 her husband found work in Budapest[This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.
