The Divided Self

graphical account of a severe mental illness, experienced by a sensitive and gifte. schoolmaster. Looking back now from a position of sad tranquillity, Mr. Stewart ' trying to evaluate all that happened to him, and to find some justification that ^ ease his burden of loneliness and failure. The written word is his means of communic^ tion with himself, as with others, and even at the height of his illness, he continue to set down on paper the dreams and phantasies that preoccupied and terrified hi111 A large part of the book consists of extracts from his journals and from the v^rS libre he wrote at the dictation of his Voice. For many years Mr. Stewart struggled to carry on his profession, despite Pre(monitions of horror and disaster, while the everyday world became increasing threatening and hostile. Finally, he became completely dominated by the Inner Vofcfj at whose command he had to perform exhausting rituals of great complexity. In ^ attempts to understand, he has read widely, and he feels particularly indebted to writings of Jung, but the interpretations and comments that he offers in the light ^ j his readings often interfere with the direct communication of his experiences. I* < where he is able to draw the reader into the world of his illness that his account is particular value. The dust-jacket's reference to "the healing of a common and tressing nervous disorder" hardly seems adequate.