Primo Levi

This biography of Primo Levi offers an in-depth exploration of his life and literary contributions, providing a nuanced view of his complex works.

Drawing on twenty years of research, Primo Levi is the definitive biography of the renowned writer and Holocaust survivor. Over the last seventy years, Levi has been recognized as a crucial literary witness to the extermination of European Jews. In this comprehensive work, Marco Belpoliti delves into Levi’s tumultuous life, his journey as a writer and intellectual, and the complexity of his literary contributions.

Organized in a mosaic format, Primo Levi dedicates each chapter to a different book by Levi. Belpoliti not only traces the history of each work's creation and publication but also examines their literary influences. The contents of Levi's writings span various fields, including chemistry, anthropology, and linguistics. The author offers a fresh perspective on Levi’s initially rejected masterpiece, If This Is a Man, while exploring themes of dreams, animals, travel, and the interplay of comedy and tragedy.

This biography is rich with reflections on fundamental themes such as Judaism, the concentration camps, and the act of testimony. Enhanced by photographs and letters uncovered from previously unexplored archives, Primo Levi serves as a treasure trove of stories that collectively create a nuanced portrait of one of the twentieth century's most significant voices.