129. Primo Levi a Waltraut Falter, 11 agosto 1969

11-8-1969

Caro Mr. Falter,

sfortunatamente la mia conoscenza del tedesco è troppo scarsa per permettermi di rispondere nella Sua lingua a entrambe le Sue gentili lettere. Le sono profondamente grato per aver sentito l’«obbligo» di scrivermi: dopotutto, la vera ragione che, così tanti anni fa, mi ha spinto a scrivere il mio primo libro è proprio quella che Lei ha indicato; ovvero non solo «raccontare una storia», ma fungere da compulsione per il lettore (e soprattutto per il lettore tedesco), obbligarlo a guardarsi indietro, a fare i conti con la storia del suo paese, magari anche con gli atti da lui stesso compiuti… È questa la ragione per cui la comparsa della traduzione tedesca di Se questo è un uomo, e le tante lettere che ho ricevuto da lettori tedeschi, sono state per me motivo di profonda soddisfazione, e mi hanno aiutato a guarire le ferite della prova di Auschwitz.

Se la cosa La può interessare, Pikkolo (Jean Samuel) è sopravvissuto, ed è oggi farmacista a Wasselonne, vicino a Strasburgo; Charles è insegnate nei Vosgi; Mendi (p. 109) è Landesrabbiner a Dortmund. Tutti gli altri personaggi sono scomparsi: Lorenzo è tornato a casa così pieno di orrore per le cose che aveva visto, e così privo di speranza per l’umanità, che ha cominciato a bere, e nel 1952 è morto di alcolismo e tubercolosi

Cordiali saluti e ancora grazie
Suo

Primo Levi

Dear Mr. Falter,

unfortunately, my knowledge of German is too poor to allow me to reply to both your kind letters in your language. I feel deeply indebted to you for having been “compelled” to write me: after all, the real reason that urged me, so many years ago, to write my first book was just the one you have pointed out; that is, not only to “tell a tale”, but to act a as a compulsion to the reader (and especially the German reader), to force him to look back, to come to terms with his country’s history, possibly with his own personal deeds… This is the reason why the appearance of the German translation of Se questo è un uomo, and the many letters from German readers which I received, have been for me a matter of deep satisfaction, and helped me to heal the wounds of the ordeal of Auschwitz.

If that can prove of interest to you, Pikkolo (Jean Samuel) has survived, and is now druggist in Wasselonne near Strasbourg; Charles is teacher in the Vosges; Mendi (page 109) is Landesrabbiner in Dortmund. All other characters have disappeared: Lorenzo returned home so full of horror of the things he had seen, and so desperate of humanity, that he took to drinking, and died in 1952 of alcoholism and tuberculosis.

Best wishes to you and thank you again
Sincerely yours

Primo Levi

Dear Mr. Falter,

unfortunately, my knowledge of German is too poor to allow me to reply to both your kind letters in your language. I feel deeply indebted to you for having been “compelled” to write me: after all, the real reason that urged me, so many years ago, to write my first book was just the one you have pointed out; that is, not only to “tell a tale”, but to act a as a compulsion to the reader (and especially the German reader), to force him to look back, to come to terms with his country’s history, possibly with his own personal deeds… This is the reason why the appearance of the German translation of Se questo è un uomo, and the many letters from German readers which I received, have been for me a matter of deep satisfaction, and helped me to heal the wounds of the ordeal of Auschwitz.

If that can prove of interest to you, Pikkolo (Jean Samuel) has survived, and is now druggist in Wasselonne near Strasbourg; Charles is teacher in the Vosges; Mendi (page 109) is Landesrabbiner in Dortmund. All other characters have disappeared: Lorenzo returned home so full of horror of the things he had seen, and so desperate of humanity, that he took to drinking, and died in 1952 of alcoholism and tuberculosis.

Best wishes to you and thank you again
Sincerely yours

Primo Levi

Dear Mr. Falter,

unfortunately, my knowledge of German is too poor to allow me to reply to both your kind letters in your language. I feel deeply indebted to you for having been “compelled” to write me: after all, the real reason that urged me, so many years ago, to write my first book was just the one you have pointed out; that is, not only to “tell a tale”, but to act a as a compulsion to the reader (and especially the German reader), to force him to look back, to come to terms with his country’s history, possibly with his own personal deeds… This is the reason why the appearance of the German translation of Se questo è un uomo, and the many letters from German readers which I received, have been for me a matter of deep satisfaction, and helped me to heal the wounds of the ordeal of Auschwitz.

If that can prove of interest to you, Pikkolo (Jean Samuel) has survived, and is now druggist in Wasselonne near Strasbourg; Charles is teacher in the Vosges; Mendi (page 109) is Landesrabbiner in Dortmund. All other characters have disappeared: Lorenzo returned home so full of horror of the things he had seen, and so desperate of humanity, that he took to drinking, and died in 1952 of alcoholism and tuberculosis.

Best wishes to you and thank you again
Sincerely yours

Primo Levi