Fleeing Nazi persecution, Sigmund Freud spent the last year of his life in Hampstead, London. Eighty and in poor health, he knew it would be his last address.
‘I found the kindliest welcome in beautiful, free, generous England.’ He has more than returned the favour – leaving us this wonderful place, now the Freud Museum.
A great collector; you will find here his extensive library, his artwork, his desk and some 2000 archeological objects. I remember rows of ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian heads. As you walk into his famous study, in which he still saw patients, their eyes seem to watch you!
It is hard to convey the power of this room, of which his famous couch takes centre stage. Untouched since 1938, it is as if Freud himself has just taken off his glasses for a moment, pushed out his chair and made his way into the beautiful English garden he so loved.
According to Freud: ‘Words have a magical power’. It is certainly magical to hear this old recording of Freud’s voice – one of the great geniuses of the 20th century speaking directly to us.
