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AFTERWORD

Years ago in an essay about the writing of When Nietzsche Wept I cited a phrase by André Gide; “History is fiction that did happen. Whereas fiction is history that might have happened.”

A felicitous phrase, I thought, and wrote,

Fiction is history that might have happened. Perfect! That was precisely the fiction I wanted to write. My novel, When Nietzsche Wept, could have happened. Given the very improbable history of the field of psychotherapy, all the events of this book could have come to pass if history had rotated only slightly on its axis. (from The ϓalom Reader, Basic Books, NY, 1998 ) In February 2003 an event occurred which gave these words an eerie prescience. Renate Müller-Buck forwarded me a remarkable letter she had discovered while working on the commentary volumes for Nietzsche’s correspondence within the historical critical edition of Nietzsche’s works and letters founded by Montinari and Giorgio Colli. In the Weimar Nietzsche Archives, she came across a 1878 letter in which Siegfried Lipiner tries to convince Heinrich Köselitz to send Nietzsche to Vienna where he would be treated by Breuer!

Siegfried Lipiner was a Viennese poet and philosopher and a friend of Nietzsche, Freud, Mahler, and Breuer. At one time they were all members, along with Freud, of the Pernerstorfer Circle, a group of students and intellectuals interested in philosophy and social democratic literature. Heinrich Köselitz, (a musician with the pseudonym of Peter Gast) was Nietzsche’s close friend, disciple, and amanuensis.

In other words, the very fictional event which I had imagined and used as the foundation to my novel came close to having been history. Certainly, as the letter below indicates, Siegfried Lipiner was doing his utmost to persuade Nietzsche’s friend to arrange for Nietzsche to visit Vienna and consult with his friend, Josef Breuer. He had found funds to pay for Nietzsche’s several-months stay in Vienna, had arranged with Dr. Breuer, had discussed the plan with some of Nietzsche’s friends, and had even given thought to the neighborhood where Nietzsche might reside.

The plan never became history. Köselitz replied that he personally found the offer enticing and even entertained the fantasy of abducting Nietzsche and bringing him to Vienna. But, after consulting Nietzsche’s sister, Elisabeth, and his friend, Franz Overbeck, decided it would be best to decline the offer. Nietzsche was too ill to undergo the agitation of a major move. Besides, he was just about to leave for a cold-water cure at Baden-Baden. Furthermore, he had suffered harm by changing physicians too often, and had just entered the care of two eminent physicians and it was felt that he should not change again. Some of Nietzsche’s letters written before this proposal indicate that Nietzsche had taken a dislike to Siegfried Lipiner’s inclination to tell him what to do and it is possible that Nietzsche himself may have turned down the proposal.

Here is the letter from Lipiner and the reply from Köselitz.

Praterstrasse, Vienna,

22nd February 1878

My dear friend Köselitz!

I must thank you so much for your letter which made me very happy.—Could you be so kind as to give my respects to Mr. P. Widemann. It will be a great pleasure to review his works. How are you progressing with your cultural activities, Is there anything I can do to assist you? Do not be shy to ask me, I will ask friends to help wherever possible.

What you wrote about Overbeck confirms my impression of him after reading the paper on discord and accord. Are you familiar with Paul de Lagarde? If not—you should make up for this as soon as possible. His paper “On the Present State of the German Reich” (Göttingen, Dieterich, 1876) is brilliant; I love and adore him in the highest. But now to the essence. Fräulein von Meysenburg has written alarming things about Nietzsche. I was, as you know, at that time in Salzburg, invited by von Seydlitz. Her telegram also did not contain anything reassuring. One thing is certain: Nietzsche must be forced to concentrate in the next few months only on his cure. I have the following plan: He should come to Vienna; if necessary, I will pick him up; we will not travel in one [sic] tour, instead we will make interruptions—then he might as well consult our efficient physicians in Vienna, under their constant supervision and care adhere to a rigorous and continuous healing process; a highly competent nerve pathologist, Dr. Breuer, a personal friend of mine, will look after him with utmost care; Professor Bamberger will have overall supervision of the treatment, an efficient, highly experienced young doctor (specialist and assistant doctor in general hospital) will assist him; I have been provided with the necessary funds to keep N. here for several months living without any worries, except those regarding his health—these will not cause Nietzsche any troubles whatsoever, will and shall not evoke a single doubt. N. shall, if he wishes, not live in, but in the vicinity of Vienna, in our mild climate and in quite healthy and open surroundings; however, he can also have absolutely quiet living quarters in town. Of course I will purchase the whole lot; he need not worry about a thing, will find everything prepared. —Not one word shall be uttered that could upset or excite him,—he will enjoy the most gentle, caring, protecting, soothing treatment. He has here, once a convalescent, the best distraction available. In short: there is no reason in existence nor conceivable that could prevent him from coming here, everything seems to be quite clear. Baron Seydlitz is just delighted about this plan; Hans Richter, to whom I had spoken, also thinks it is highly recommendable.

Meanwhile I have requested to obtain [sic] medical advice on that question, the result of which will leave no doubt. Please, dear friend, write me immediately of what you think about this matter, talk to Fraulein Nietzsche, try to dissipate all doubts and create a favourable atmosphere. To name it, help me overcome a hindrance: N. should not believe that he is a burden to anybody nor that he should have a bad conscience. He should know that we all who love him would feel hurt if he rejected because of these reasons. Gratitude is also a bit of principii individuationis.

Everything that I have said is meant word for word. Also, N. should not believe that any of his admirers would bother him; no one will approach him unless he is in good health [sic]. I myself will know how to treat him; you can rely on that, I know that tranquility is most important to him.—If N. is in Lucerne, kindly give me his address. Otherwise, give him my best regards, read to him the letter if you wish and work in any case towards my plan, that is for his sake [sic].—Please also extend my sincerest regards to highly esteemed Fräulein Nietzsche. I will write to Nietzsche as soon as I am in receipt of your reply.

From the bottom of my heart.

Yours truly,

Lipiner

My dear Sir!

I could not reply to your kind letter until now since I had been consulting with many an expert. By this delay your patience has been put hard to the test despite my efforts to hasten things.

All of us are of the utmost admiration for your friendship that you show whilst explaining your wonderful plan. Upon reading your letter for the first time, I was of the impression that Nietzsche could hardly resist this invitation; but before showing it to him personally, I needed to ask various friends for their advice. Overbeck and Nietzsche’s sister felt that even though they are moved by your overwhelming concern it would be more advisable with respect to N[ietzsche]’s present state of health not to mention anything about your plans. First of all, this would excite him far too much, this should be actually avoided as we could make him sick again for a month—and then this suggestion came, unfortunately, a little too late. 4 months ago N[ietzsche] might have been persuaded to accept your invitation; but now he has his own doctors here, very good doctors, even though they are by no means from Vienna. He is being treated by Prof. Immermann (the son of Münchhausen-I [mmermann]) and Prof. Massini, 2 highly intelligent men, whose care he cannot be taken from without running a risk now. N[ietzsche]’s illness goes back in part to the frequent change of doctors, all of whom experimented with him and not actually knowing what he was suffering from. But now he has in fact outstanding doctors whose causality abilities have been acquired by their aptitude and studies. Therefore we are convinced that N[ietzsche] should stay under their care. Of course it is easy to say this long distance, i.e. Vienna which can be very proud of its famous physicians; however, it is rather doubtful that you, who devotes every thought and all your love to finally restoring our poor, poor friend’s health, will be satisfied. However, I hope I can reassure you by formulating what all of us close to N[ietzsche] are primarily concerned about: N[ietzsche]’s fast recovery; how every individual wants to lend a hand and help and, how each and every one of us is stunned at whatever stage by the dreadful mercilessness and inaccessibility of organic nature; how we did everything, what kind of suggestions and contributions for recovery came into mind; how we even thought of abducting N[ietzsche], finally I say to you: hopefully I can convince you that despite of and after all things said, the present treatment by the doctors, and especially in anticipation of its results, seems to be the most appropriate for N[ietzsche]’s state of health.—The trip to Lucerne didn’t take place after all; but next Monday (4th March) N[ietzsche] will travel to Baden-Baden for a cold water cure. I will let you know his address which I hope to acquire on Tuesday. . .