The Meaning of Dreams Being a Literary and Psychological Journey Into Dream Interpretation, Inner Conflict, and the Double-Self in Opposition to Freud and Jung

In the wake of World War I, as Freud and Jung dominated dream theory, poet and veteran Robert Graves offered a compelling alternative. Originally published in 1925, The Meaning of Dreams is Graves's personal and insightful exploration into the sleeping mind. Rejecting Freud's narrow focus on wish-fulfillment and Jung's archetypal approach, Graves aligns himself with pioneering psychologist W.H.R. Rivers, famed for his work with shell-shocked soldiers. Graves introduces the concept of the "double-self," arguing dreams vividly dramatize the inner conflicts between our daily selves and the desires we repress. Blending literary flair and psychological depth, Graves illuminates dreams of wartime trauma, symbolic thinking, and the timeless human struggle with identity and meaning. Nearly a century later, his humane and nuanced interpretations offer remarkable insights for modern readers seeking deeper self-understanding through their dreams. Long out of print and rarely seen since its original publication, The Meaning of Dreams is a rare rediscovery in dream literature. This Principle Press edition includes a new introduction and historical context, shedding fresh light on Graves and the intellectual world of the 1920s.