Hysteria stages a comeback in this significant work by Juliet Mitchell. Historically considered a female disorder and later an inherent quality of femininity, Mitchell argues that hysteria is caused by the trauma of displacement experienced in sibling jealousy for parental love. It affects both men and women but in the last century, upon its discovery in men, hysteria was fragmented, renamed and condemned to non-existence. But for Mitchell, hysteria is an integral part of the modern world and should not be denied. Her effective arguments are proposed through her assessment of Freud's evaluation of his own hysteria and the Oedipus complex. Had Freud accepted his own hysteria, he would have interpreted the Oedipus complex in a different, and truer, way. Mitchell's arguments are further strengthened by examples of her own analysis of compulsive human actions to placate wanting. But don't believe all the hysteria. Born of Freudianism and feminism, this analysis may be difficult for many to decipher - or unacceptable to those who are not devoted to such conservative ideals.