007. Hermann Langbein a Primo Levi, 28 settembre 1961

Vienna, 28 settembre 1961

Signor
Dott. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75

Caro Amigo,

Le invio le bozze dei Suoi contributi che faranno parte del libro su Auschwitz – sono ancora, però, da revisionare.[1] Le chiedo di mandare i Suoi commenti al più presto, perché vorrei spedire all’editore il prima possibile le bozze corrette.

Forse ha anche saputo che il Dott. Haupe[2] di Varsavia ha inviato una lettera circolare a tutti gli autori[3] del libro su Auschwitz, in cui ci diffama. Scrive che noi – cioè i curatori – vogliamo arricchirci in modo illecito incassando i compensi degli autori, pur sapendo che in realtà andranno ai sopravvissuti di Auschwitz che ne hanno bisogno, come abbiamo anche messo nero su bianco nel contratto. A quanto pare, certi principi impongono a questi signori di aggiungere una calunnia di più alle altre… Che dire di un simile comportamento tra ex prigionieri di Auschwitz?

Comprenderà che in una tale situazione l’editore insiste per includere nel libro solo gli autori che hanno espressamente concesso a uno dei curatori questo diritto. Le chiedo quindi una conferma in tal senso.

Con i miei più cari saluti, sempre
Suo

(Hermann Langbein)

Allegato:
Bozze: «Storia di dieci giorni» e «L’ultimo»

Vienna, September 28, 1961

Mr.
Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75

Caro Amigo,

Today I’m able to send you the galley proofs—albeit uncorrected—of your contributions to our Auschwitz book.[1] Please send me your comments as promptly as you can, since I would like to send the corrected proofs to the publisher as soon as possible.

Perhaps you have also already heard that Mr. Haupe[2] in Warsaw has sent a letter to all contributors[3] to the Auschwitz book maligning us. He writes that we—meaning the anthology editors—intend to misappropriate the contributor fees to enrich ourselves, even though he knows that it will go to Auschwitz survivors in need, or their families, and that we have stipulated as much in the contract. It appears there is some law causing these gentlemen to add insult to injury… What can one say of such behavior between former prisoners of Auschwitz?

You will certainly understand that, given this situation, the publisher insists that contributions be included only from authors who have expressly granted us editors the right to reprint their work. I therefore request that you kindly confirm your permission.

With warmest regards, I remain
Yours,

(Hermann Langbein)

Enclosure:
Proofs: “The Story of Ten Days” and “The Last One”

Wien, den 28. September 1961

Herrn
Dott. Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75

Caro Amigo,

Heute kann ich Ihnen die Druckfahnen Ihrer Beiträge, die in unser Auschwitz-Buch aufgenommen werden – allerdings noch unkorrigiert – schicken.[1] Ich bitte Sie, alle Bemerkungen, die Sie haben, möglichst umgehend, da ich die korrigierten Fahnen so schnell als möglich an den Verlag schicken will.

Vielleicht haben Sie auch schon erfahren, dass Dr. Haupe[2] aus Varsovie eine Rundbrief an alle Autoren[3] des Auschwitz-Buches versandt hat, in dem er uns verleumdet. So schreibt er, dass wir – also die Herausgeber – das Autorenhonorar für ungerechtfertigten Bereicherungen verwenden wollen, obwohl ihm bekannt ist, dass es für bedürftige Auschwitzer, bzw. Hinterbliebene bestimmt ist und dass wir das auch im Vertrag schriftlich fixiert haben. Scheinbar zwingt eine gewisse Gesetzmässigkeit diese Herren, zu einer Verleumdung immer weitere hinzuzufügen… Was soll man zu einem solchen Vorgehen zwischen ehemaligen Auschwitz-Häftlingen sagen?

Sie werden verstehen, dass der Verlag in dieser Situation darauf besteht, nur solche Autoren in das Buch aufzunehmen, die einem der Herausgeber ausdrücklich dieses Recht zugestanden haben. Ich bitte Sie also um so eine Bestätigung.

Mit herzlichen Grüssen bleibe ich
Ihr

(Hermann Langbein)

Beilage:
Fahnen: „Geschichte von zehn Tagen“ und „Der Letzte“

Vienna, September 28, 1961

Mr.
Primo Levi
Torino
Corso Re Umberto 75

Caro Amigo,

Today I’m able to send you the galley proofs—albeit uncorrected—of your contributions to our Auschwitz book.[1] Please send me your comments as promptly as you can, since I would like to send the corrected proofs to the publisher as soon as possible.

Perhaps you have also already heard that Mr. Haupe[2] in Warsaw has sent a letter to all contributors[3] to the Auschwitz book maligning us. He writes that we—meaning the anthology editors—intend to misappropriate the contributor fees to enrich ourselves, even though he knows that it will go to Auschwitz survivors in need, or their families, and that we have stipulated as much in the contract. It appears there is some law causing these gentlemen to add insult to injury… What can one say of such behavior between former prisoners of Auschwitz?

You will certainly understand that, given this situation, the publisher insists that contributions be included only from authors who have expressly granted us editors the right to reprint their work. I therefore request that you kindly confirm your permission.

With warmest regards, I remain
Yours,

(Hermann Langbein)

Enclosure:
Proofs: “The Story of Ten Days” and “The Last One”