It is in my view both traditional and revolutionary. I will not discuss the final chapter on publication anxiety, as for colleagues who have not yet read the book, it would be to throw light prematurely on a very lovely twilight corner. In the tradition of the post Kleinians, Ronald Britton in Belief and Imagination breaks new ground. His style is clear, easy to read and always illuminating, both in terms of the concept and of the nuances of reflection that it evokes. In the introduction, for example, he covers concepts such as projective identification and anxiety in an orthodox yet arresting new way that invites one to have fresh thoughts about them.
Many book reviews end with a recommendation to read or to buy the book.
In this case a recommendation is not enough. This book is essential reading for anyone wanting to keep psychoanalytic thought alive and well.