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Where Three Roads Meet: The Myth of Oedipus…
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Where Three Roads Meet: The Myth of Oedipus (Myths) (edition 2007)

by Salley Vickers

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24311109,465 (3.45)14
The author of The Cleaner of Chartres "brings Sigmund Freud together with a vivid, loquacious Tiresias for an intriguing retelling of the Oedipus myth" (Publishers Weekly). In the latest retelling of the world's greatest stories in the Myth series from Canongate, the highly regarded novelist Salley Vickers brings to life the Western world's most widely known myth, Oedipus, through a shrewdly told exploration of the seminal story in conversation between Freud and Tiresias. It is 1938 and Sigmund Freud, suffering from the debilitating effects of cancer, has been permitted by the Nazis to leave Vienna. He seeks refuge in England, taking up residence in the house in Hampstead in which he will die fifteen months later. But his last months are made vivid by the arrival of a stranger who comes and goes according to Freud's state of health. Who is the mysterious visitor and why has he come to tell the famed proponent of the Oedipus complex his strangely familiar story? Set partly in prewar London and partly in ancient Greece, Where Three Roads Meet is as brilliantly compelling as it is thoughtful. Former psychoanalyst and acclaimed novelist Salley Vickers "draws suspense and even new meaning from a foundational Western myth" (Publishers Weekly) and revisits a crime committed long ago that still has disturbing reverberations for us all today. "Full of insight and humor, offering a glimpse into the workings of a great mind faced with the conundrum of human suffering."--The Times "A novelist in the great English tradition of moral seriousness."--The Washington Post… (more)
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Title:Where Three Roads Meet: The Myth of Oedipus (Myths)
Authors:Salley Vickers
Info:Canongate Books (2007), Hardcover, 224 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:
Tags:Fiction, Amazon UK, Knopf Myths

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Where Three Roads Meet: The Myth of Oedipus by Salley Vickers

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» See also 14 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 11 (next | show all)
Under the influence of analgesic morphine, Sigmund Freud is visited by a mysterious figure arguing for a more mystical interpretation of the story of Oedipus, closer to Sophocles's telling.

Rather disappointing, run of the mill re-telling of the story. Not actually bad, but doesn't really bring anything new. ( )
  Robertgreaves | Jan 9, 2018 |
Part of the Canongate Myths series this is a reworking of the Oedipus myth. Vickers uses a series of conversations between a severely ill Sigmund Freud, the originator of the Oedipus Complex, and Tiresias, the blind seer of the Theban plays, to explore and open up the myth to other interpretations. Having studied these plays, I found this retelling interesting, but not necessarily innovative or moving. But I loved the domestic detail of Freud's life, his daughter, Anna, bringing him tea at 5pm every day, his longing for his Chow, Lün and his need to see the almond blossom in his garden before he died. I also suspect that this may be a book that will benefit from a couple of rereads. ( )
  riverwillow | Apr 8, 2012 |
For the past seven years, I have taught Oedipus the King (aka Oedipus Rex), so I knew I had to read Where Three Roads Meet. This book is part of the same series, Canongate Myth, as The Penelopiad, by my favorite author Margaret Atwood, which is how I discovered it.

I love the premise - a very ill Sidmund Freud hallucinates visits by Tiresias, who tells him more about the story of Oedipus as only someone who witnessed it firsthand can. Together, the two analyze Oedipus' motives and actions, bringing new insight to the story for both men (and the readers, of course).

As I read, I found myself wishing I could share some of Tiresias' insights with my students as we read Oedipus or after reading it. However, our curriculum just replaced Oedipus with excerpts from The Odyssey, so this year was probably the last time I'll teach Oedipus. Nevertheless, as someone who has read the play about thirty times, I was fascinated by the new look at the Oedipus story contained in the novel.

Vickers' writing style was easy to read, intellectually engaging, and beautiful. I would not hesitate to read something by her again. This was a wonderful introduction and a really nice read. ( )
  Esquiress | Jun 12, 2011 |
Fiction: I have all Vickers' books, ~ reviewed this one on Amazon, & it was a delight to read. ( )
  JaneAnneShaw | Nov 24, 2010 |
A great story of a man with the distinction of immortals: being blameless, but not innocent. ( )
  djekica | Aug 26, 2009 |
Showing 1-5 of 11 (next | show all)
The latest in Canongate's admirable series of myths recast for a contemporary readership, this retelling of the Oedipus myth - which brings together both the characters familiar from Sophocles' drama and the story's best-known interpreter, Sigmund Freud - shows the author at her most beguiling.

 

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Early in 1923, in his 67th year, Sigmund Freud, originator of the theory and practice of psychoanlysis, and the radical and provocative Oedipus complex, discovered a growth in his mouth.
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This afternoon I was recalling a day in Delphi, in the pinewood, and a host of goldfinches descending all about me. You know the little finches with the scarlet polls and gold-barred wings?
I looked up your goldfinch. Interesting iconography. Apparently it's a symbol of Jesus Christ.... The red head allegedly derives from the blood on the crown of thorns, which the bird was supposed daringly to have fed from. It's a striking-looking bird.
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The author of The Cleaner of Chartres "brings Sigmund Freud together with a vivid, loquacious Tiresias for an intriguing retelling of the Oedipus myth" (Publishers Weekly). In the latest retelling of the world's greatest stories in the Myth series from Canongate, the highly regarded novelist Salley Vickers brings to life the Western world's most widely known myth, Oedipus, through a shrewdly told exploration of the seminal story in conversation between Freud and Tiresias. It is 1938 and Sigmund Freud, suffering from the debilitating effects of cancer, has been permitted by the Nazis to leave Vienna. He seeks refuge in England, taking up residence in the house in Hampstead in which he will die fifteen months later. But his last months are made vivid by the arrival of a stranger who comes and goes according to Freud's state of health. Who is the mysterious visitor and why has he come to tell the famed proponent of the Oedipus complex his strangely familiar story? Set partly in prewar London and partly in ancient Greece, Where Three Roads Meet is as brilliantly compelling as it is thoughtful. Former psychoanalyst and acclaimed novelist Salley Vickers "draws suspense and even new meaning from a foundational Western myth" (Publishers Weekly) and revisits a crime committed long ago that still has disturbing reverberations for us all today. "Full of insight and humor, offering a glimpse into the workings of a great mind faced with the conundrum of human suffering."--The Times "A novelist in the great English tradition of moral seriousness."--The Washington Post

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Canongate Books

2 editions of this book were published by Canongate Books.

Editions: 1841959863, 1847670725

Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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