Introduction

Daniel Paul Schreber

"The month of November, 1895, marks an important time in the history of my life and in particular in my own ideas of the possible shaping of my future, I remember the period distinctively; it coincided with a number of beautiful autumn days when there was a heavy morning mist on the Elbe. During that time the signs of a transformation into a woman became so marked on my body, that I could no longer ignore the imminent goal at which the whole of my development was aiming. In the immediately preceding nights my male sexual organ might have actually have been retracted had I not resolutely set my will against it, still following the sens of my manly honour; so near completion was the miracle. Soul-voluptuousness had become so strong that I myself received the impression of a female body, first on my arms and hands, later on my legs, bosom, buttocks and other parts of my body. I will discuss details…"