Description
In the middle of the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s, the birth control pill was introduced and a maverick psychoanalytic institute, the Sullivan Institute for Research in Psychoanalysis, opened its doors in New York City. Its founders, Saul Newton and Jane Pearce, wanted to start a revolution, one grounded in ideals of creative expression, sexual liberation, and freedom from the expectations of society, and the revolution, they felt, needed to begin at home. Dismantling the nuclear family—and monogamous marriage—would free people from the repressive forces of their parents. In its first two decades, the movement attracted many brilliant, creative people as patients: the painter Jackson Pollock and a swarm of other abstract expressionist artists, the famed art critic Clement Greenberg, the singer Judy Collins, and the dancer Lucinda Childs. In the 1960s, the group evolved into an urban commune of three or four hundred people, with patients living with other patients, leading creative, polyamorous lives.
But by the mid-1970s, under the leadership of Saul Newton, the Institute had devolved from a radical communal experiment into an insular cult, with therapists controlling virtually every aspect of their patients’ lives, from where they lived and the work they did to how often they saw their sexual partners and their children. Although the group was highly secretive during its lifetime and even after its dissolution in 1991, the noted journalist Alexander Stille has succeeded in reconstructing the inner life of a parallel world hidden in plain sight in the middle of Manhattan. Through countless interviews and personal papers, The Sullivanians reveals the nearly unbelievable story of a fallen utopia.
Details
Are you ready to dive into the captivating and shocking world of The Sullivanians? This book takes you on a mesmerizing journey through the rise and fall of an American commune that started as a psychoanalytic institute, but soon transformed into a radical cult.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the 1950s as society grapples with the introduction of the birth control pill. The Sullivan Institute for Research in Psychoanalysis emerges during this time, led by visionaries Saul Newton and Jane Pearce. They longed for a revolution, a movement that would liberate individuals from societal expectations and embrace creative expression and sexual freedom. They believed that breaking free from the constraints of the nuclear family and monogamous marriage was the key to personal liberation.
In its early years, the institute attracted the likes of iconic figures such as Jackson Pollock, Clement Greenberg, Judy Collins, and Lucinda Childs. These creative souls found solace and inspiration within the walls of the institute, which evolved into an urban commune in the 1960s. Here, patients lived together, exploring their creativity and embracing polyamorous relationships.
However, as time went on, the institute under the leadership of Saul Newton transformed into an insular cult, tightly controlling every aspect of its members' lives. From where they lived to the work they did, even to the frequency of their interactions with sexual partners and children, nothing escaped the therapists' control. Alexander Stille, a renowned journalist, brings to light this hidden realm in the heart of Manhattan, delving deep into the personal papers and interviews to reconstruct the intricate details of a parallel world few were aware of.
Prepare to be captivated by The Sullivanians, a fascinating account of a utopia turned dystopia. Don't miss out on this revelatory book that peels back the layers of secrecy and exposes the shocking truth. Click here to order your copy now!
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