Wilhelm Jensen Superior Powers

Annotation

The two novellas by Wilhelm Jensen (1837-1911), "The Red Umbrella" ("Der rote Schirm") and "In the Gothic House" ("Im gotischen Hause") were originally published by Verlag Emil Felber, Berlin in 1892 under the title ÜBERMÄCHTE [SUPERIOR POWERS]. They have not been reprinted since, nor have they to the best of my knowledge ever been translated into English. They play a role in the history of psycho-analysis, because Sigmund Freud refers to them in a letter to Wilhelm Jensen on December 16, 1907 concerning the latter's novella GRADIVA, which Freud had analysed at length: ". . . a knowledgeable friend has drawn my attention to two other novellas of yours, which you have combined under one title as "Übermächte" ["Superior Powers"]. Of these the first - Der rote Schirm - [The Red Umbrella] shows remarkably many traits which also belong to the Gradiva; the other - Im gotischen Hause - [In the Gothic House] appears to be related to the Gradiva via mediation of the first." The full text of Freud's letter and Jensen's reply are found in the Appendix. - Unless otherwise stated, the translations are by me. I have included the original German poems to allow readers a comparison. Hartmut Heyck, translator, Great-grandson of Wilhelm Jensen