Table Of Content‘The subject of this book is nothing less than “the necessity” and
problematics “of seeking truth” as analysts confront the vital
enigmas of the human mind and attempt to articulate and address
the problems to which they give rise. It is not only an important
explication of the contributions of a remarkable analyst, but it is
a remarkable book by a remarkable author, one that should prove
essential reading to clinicians at all levels as they struggle to
engage with and create the psychoanalysis of the 21st century.’
Howard B. Levine, Editor-in-chief,
The Routledge W.R. Bion Studies series.
‘Steven Jaron’s moving account of his work with his patients, with
Christopher Bollas as his theoretical and psychic guide, gives the
lay reader a touching insight into how the psychoanalytic process
can bring compassion and healing. Bollas’s work to uncover the
mostly hidden, in the form of the unthought known, is given
historical and emotional background in Jaron’s thoughtful book
whose starting point is the search for reverie in Bollas—the analyst
as a seer, a feeling observer of our shadow selves.’
Anish Kapoor
Christopher Bollas
This book provides a clear and accessible overview of the seminal
clinical thinking of Christopher Bollas.
Placing Bollas’s writings besides those of analysts including
Milner, Bion, Winnicott, Lacan and Green, Steven Jaron examines
the central concept of the unthought known in terms of uncon-
scious communication in the primary environment while occa-
sioning a reworking of Oedipal configurations. Through vivid
narratives of character analysing a range of adult patients, at times
requiring a rethinking of the conventional psychoanalytic frame,
Jaron offers a fresh perspective on Bollas in arguing for the impor-
tance of considering not only the patient’s self experience but also
the psychoanalyst’s.
This important study will be rewarding to beginning and sea-
soned analysts alike, offering suggestions for using Bollas’ work
in the consulting room as well as when faced with the demands of
civic life today.
Steven Jaron, PhD, is a psychoanalyst working in the 15–20
National Ophthalmology Hospital and in private practice in
Paris. Before studying at the Psychoanalytic Society for Research
and Training (SPRF), he obtained a doctorate in French and
Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
Routledge Introductions to Contemporary
Psychoanalysis
Aner Govrin
Series Editor
Tair Caspi
Associate Editor
Books in the Routledge Introductions to Contemporary Psychoanalysis
will serve as concise introductions dedicated to influential concepts,
theories, leading figures and techniques in psychoanalysis.
The length of each book is fixed at 40,000 words.
The series’ books are designed to be easily accessible so as to provide
informative answers in various areas of psychoanalytic thought. Each
book will provide updated ideas on topics relevant to contemporary
psychoanalysis—from the unconscious and dreams, projective identification
and eating disorders, through neuropsychoanalysis, colonialism and spiritual-
sensitive psychoanalysis. Books will also be dedicated to prominent figures
in the field, such as Melanie Klein, Jacques Lacan, Sándor Ferenczi, Otto
Kernberg and Michael Eigen.
Not serving solely as an introduction for beginners, the purpose of
the series is to offer compendiums of information on particular topics
within different psychoanalytic schools. We not only ask authors to
review a topic but also address the readers with their own personal views
and contribution to the specific chosen field. Books will make intricate
ideas comprehensible without compromising their complexity.
We aim to make contemporary psychoanalysis more accessible to both
clinicians and the general educated public.
Christopher Bollas: A Contemporary Introduction
Steven Jaron
For more information about this series, please visit: www.rout-
ledge.com
Christopher Bollas
A Contemporary Introduction
Steven Jaron
Cover image © Michal Heiman, Asylum
1855–2020, The Sleeper (video, psychoanalytic sofa
and Plate 34), exhibition view, Herzliya Museum of
Contemporary Art, 2017
First published 2022
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Steven Jaron
The right of Steven Jaron to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the
British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Jaron, Steven, author.
Title: Christopher Bollas : a contemporary introduction / Steve Jaron.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2022. |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2021048131 (print) | LCCN 2021048132 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367819552 (hbk) | ISBN 9780367819569 (pbk) |
ISBN 9781003010999 (ebk)
Subjects: LCSH: Bollas, Christopher. | Psychoanalysts—Biography. |
Parapsychology.
Classification: LCC BF109.B6435 J37 2022 (print) | LCC BF109.B6435 (ebook) |
DDC 150.19/5092 [B]—dc23/eng/20211208
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021048131
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021048132
ISBN: 978-0-367-81955-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-81956-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-01099-9 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003010999
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
For B.G. and V. J.-C.
Contents
Preface x
Introduction 1
1 A Psychoanalytic Epistemology:
The Unthought Known 19
2 Idiom, Character and Musical Objects:
‘Who, if I Cried’ 33
3 Hysteria: Insufferable Pain 44
4 Schizophrenia: The Elephant and
the Orphan Child 60
5 Self Experience in a Covidian Dream 76
6 Psychic Transformations: Air Hunger 96
Bibliography 115
Index 124
