The Untouched Key: Tracing Childhood Trauma in Creativity and Destructiveness [Paperback]

Alice Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1991

Since the publication of The Drama of the Gifted Child in 1981, Alice Miller has achieved worldwide recognition for her work on the causes and effects of child abuse, on violence toward children and its cost to society. Now, in The Untouched Key, she explores the clues, often overlooked in biography, that connect childhood traumas to adult creativity and destructiveness. 19 drawings.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One troubled child channels her pain into art; another vents his anguish in destructive acts. What makes the critical difference in the way each translates childhood suffering? Combing the life histories of Picasso, Buster Keaton, Nietzsche, Hitler and others, Miller concludes that the presence of an enlightened witness--someone who offers a contrast to cruelty--tips the balance between constructive expressions of "forgotten" trauma and repetitions of internalized inhumanity. She argues eloquently throughout that when adult authoritarian needs suppress children's true needs, there are dangerous societal consequences.

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Anchor (February 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385267649
• ISBN-13: 978-0385267649
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Insight, April 25, 2002

By 

jumpy1 (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Untouched Key: Tracing Childhood Trauma in Creativity and Destructiveness (Paperback)

In The Untouched Key, the great psychiatrist Alice Miller has written another penetrating work about the manifestation of subconscious experiences into the conscious world. As far as I am concerned, most of the more recent modern writers on the subject have little to add to works like this one. Here is a highly respected and successful therapist, who went out on a limb and confessed to her colleagues, at a time when she could have been basking in the glory of seniority, that she finally realized she only went into the field to learn how to heal her own pain; and then had the courage to withdraw her membership from psyciatric associations once she realized their hypocrisy (which she took full responsibility for in herself, as well).

In this very fine but brief work, Alice Miller studies pivotal works of art and compares their content with the life stories of their creators. The resulting analysis is impeccably true-to-life and highly plausible. She does not trivialize art in doing so, but makes a sound case for how artistic expression could be the great liberator of mankind, and brings us to even greater respect of the artists she discusses. Whether they knew it or not (probably not?) their unrestrained creativity is presented as a gift to teach and inspire us all, subconsciously or consciously, whether or not we choose to analyze it ourselves.

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alice Through the looking glass, July 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Untouched Key: Tracing Childhood Trauma in Creativity and Destructiveness (Paperback)

I think it is time that ALice Miller recieve the credit due her for her enormous efforts in uncovering coded childhood trauma. Her tireless work has had an transformative and empowering impact on my life and the way I view my childhood and children. In this book Alice uncovers what some people want to view as a "masterpieces" of "ART". "What is really going on here?"she asks. "Look deeper..what is this artist trying to communicate". At times Alice observes and brings to light that the artist is screaming. THis book is SO important!

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Demystifying Childhood, November 30, 2001

By 

Nancy R. Fenn, Astrologer (San Diego) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Untouched Key: Tracing Childhood Trauma in Creativity and Destructiveness (Paperback)

This is one of the most important books you could ever read. It takes the world of childhood to a place you will never forget. As Miller walks you through her interpretations of the lives and self expression of Keaton, Nietzsche, Picasso, Kollwitz and others, you will learn intuitively how to interpret things the way she does. There is a loss of innocence in this process so it is a kind of initiation which comes to the depths of your soul. Your life will be much richer for this knowlege and your understanding of children and the inner child of every adult you know will be that much riper. Once you have read this book, you will wonder how you could ever have been so DEAF and so DUMB and so BLIND!!