169. Edith Ullmann a Primo Levi, 11 febbraio 1968

Sion, 11 febbraio 1968

Gentilissimo Signor Levi, 

ho letto Se questo è un uomo dieci anni dopo che era stato dato alle stampe per la prima volta dalle Sue mani, poco più di sei anni dopo l’uscita della traduzione tedesca. 

Avrà ricevuto chissà quante lettere,[1] e tuttavia desidero anch’io scriverLe e ringraziarLa. Come Lei, anch’io credo, in generale, che la vita umana non abbia uno scopo prestabilito. Ma che il Suo sia stato quello di testimoniare, questo sì, è vero e necessario.[2] Lei ha cercato di capire noi tedeschi (tout comprendre c’est tout pardonner), ma è impossibile, perché quanto è accaduto era disumano.

Che Lei abbia saputo scrivere senza odio, è un fatto che ammiro sopra ogni cosa.[3] Lei è una persona straordinaria, e provare questo sentimento fa bene. 

Con tutta la mia stima

Edith Ullmann

Sion, February 11, 1968

Dearest Mr. Levi,

I read If This Is a Man ten years after the first printed edition was in your hands, a little more than six years after it appeared in German translation.

You must have received countless letters,[1] but I would still like to write to you too, to thank you. Like you, I do not generally believe human life has any specific purpose. Yours, however, of bearing witness, is true and necessary.[2] You sought to understand us Germans (tout comprendre c’est tout pardonner)—but that is impossible because what happened was inhuman.

That you managed to write without hatred is something I admire beyond measure.[3] You are an extraordinary person, and it does one good to feel that.

With all my respect

Edith Ullmann

Sion, 11.II.1968

Gentilissimo Signor Levi, 

ho letto Se questo è un uomo, 10 Jahre nachdem es in Ihren hande gedruckt wurde, etwas mehr als 6 Jahre nachdem es in deutsches Übersetzung erschien. 

Avrà ricevuto chissà quante lettere,[1] trotzdem möchte auch ich Ihnen schreiben, Ihnen danken. Wie Sie, so glaube auch ich im Allgemeinen nicht an ein bestimmtes Ziel des menschlichen Lebens. Das Ihre aber, Zeugnis abzulegen, is wahr und notwendig.[2] Sie suchten uns Deutsche zu verstehen (tout comprendre c’est tout pardonner) – aber das is ja unmöglich weil das Geschicken unmenschlich was. 

Daß Sie ohne Haß schreiben konnten bewundere ich über alle Maßen.[3] Sie sind ein außergewöhnlicher Mensch, das zu fühlen tut gut. 

Con tutta la mia stima

Edith Ullmann

Sion, February 11, 1968

Dearest Mr. Levi,

I read If This Is a Man ten years after the first printed edition was in your hands, a little more than six years after it appeared in German translation.

You must have received countless letters,[1] but I would still like to write to you too, to thank you. Like you, I do not generally believe human life has any specific purpose. Yours, however, of bearing witness, is true and necessary.[2] You sought to understand us Germans (tout comprendre c’est tout pardonner)—but that is impossible because what happened was inhuman.

That you managed to write without hatred is something I admire beyond measure.[3] You are an extraordinary person, and it does one good to feel that.

With all my respect

Edith Ullmann