Between the age of two and five, a little girl nicknamed ‘the Piggle’ – seriously disturbed by the birth of a younger sister – visited Dr Winnicott on sixteen occasions. A verbatim account of her visits is accompanied by illuminating excerpts from letters written to the analyst by the child’s parents and an invaluable commentary by Dr Winnicott. This allows the reader to experience in detail the growth of a relationship between child and therapist and the gradual unfolding of the child’s inner world.

This classic piece of writing gives the reader the rare opportunity of being admitted to the intimacy of the consulting room and of studying the child and therapist at work. Of special value to professionals working with children, it will also fascinate anyone interested in how psychoanalysis works in practice.