157. Primo Levi a Herbert Plügge, 19 novembre 1966

19 novembre 1966

Signore,

         La ringrazio della Sua lettera: sì, capisco il tedesco, ma non così bene da scriverlo senza errori. Grazie per il giudizio sui miei libri: lo reputo tanto più interessante e gradevole per il fatto che mi arriva dalla Germania. Attendo con impazienza gli estratti del Suo saggio: sono assai curioso di vedere quali sono le “esperienze molto specifiche” che hanno ricevuto la Sua attenzione professionale.

Quanto a Staryie Doroghi, era infatti un paese abbastanza grande da essere segnato su una carta dettagliata: ho appreso in seguito che era abitato da un’altissima percentuale di ebrei. Lei ha notizia di che cos’è successo lì durante l’occupazione tedesca?[1] C’era già la “Krasnyi Dom”?[2]

Con riconoscenza

Primo Levi

November 19, 1960

Sir,

I thank you for your letter: yes, I understand German, but not well enough to write it without mistakes. Thank you for your opinion of my books: it is especially interesting and enjoyable for me because it comes to me from Germany. I am eagerly awaiting the excerpts of your work: I am very curious to see what the “ganz bestimmte Erfahrungen” are that have received your professional attention.

Regarding Staryie Doroghi, it was indeed a village large enough to be marked on a detailed map: I learned later that it had been inhabited by a very large percentage of Jews. Do you know anything about what happened there during the German occupation?[1] Was the “Krasnyi Dom” already there?[2]

Gratefully

Primo Levi

19 novembre 1966

Monsieur,

            je vous remercie de votre lettre: oui, je comprends l’allemand, mais pas assez bien pour l’écrire sans erreur. Merci pour votre jugement sur mes livres: il m’est d’autant plus intéressant et agréable du fait que c’est d’Allemagne qu’il me vient. J’attends avec impatience les extraits de votre travail: je suis très curieux de voir quels sont les “ganz bestimmte Erfahrungen” qui ont reçu votre attention professionnelle.

Pour ce qui est de Staryie Doroghi, c’était en effet un village assez gros pour être marqué dans une carte détaillée: j’ai appris par la suite qu’il avait été habité par une très grande proportion de juifs. Savez vous quelque chose de ce qui s’est passé là-bas pendant l’occupation allemande?[1] La “Krasnyi Dom” était déja là?[2]

Votre bien obligé

Primo Levi

November 19, 1960

Sir,

I thank you for your letter: yes, I understand German, but not well enough to write it without mistakes. Thank you for your opinion of my books: it is especially interesting and enjoyable for me because it comes to me from Germany. I am eagerly awaiting the excerpts of your work: I am very curious to see what the “ganz bestimmte Erfahrungen” are that have received your professional attention.

Regarding Staryie Doroghi, it was indeed a village large enough to be marked on a detailed map: I learned later that it had been inhabited by a very large percentage of Jews. Do you know anything about what happened there during the German occupation?[1] Was the “Krasnyi Dom” already there?[2]

Gratefully

Primo Levi