049. Hermann Langbein a Primo Levi, 4 ottobre 1974

Vienna, 4 ottobre 1974

Dott.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro Amico,

ti ringrazio molto per la tua lettera del 28 settembre, che per una volta non ha richiesto nemmeno il tempo che impiega di norma una spedizione dall’Italia.

Mi dispiace molto che tu non possa partecipare alla tavola rotonda in Israele. E mi dispiace ancora di più che tu sia preoccupato per tua madre. Comunque, sembra che la manifestazione in Israele debba essere cancellata: il piatto piange e l’organizzazione israeliana sta facendo ogni sorta di difficoltà, per cui è difficile immaginare come, alla fin fine, un evento di questa portata possa funzionare.

Grazie – ancora e sempre – per la tua intercessione presso il signor Tozzi. Il mio editore ha detto di non aver ricevuto nessuna lettera da Mursia (di chi sarà la colpa, del servizio postale o di uno dei due editori?). Gli ho chiesto di parlare con Mursia alla Fiera del Libro di Francoforte (che inizia fra poco). Per la traduzione francese mi trovo in una situazione simile con Fayard: anche a loro avevo proposto di tagliare un’ottantina di pagine, ma anche loro vogliono una riduzione ancora più radicale. Il fatto è che, in definitiva, non mi so decidere: da un lato sarei felice se questo libro venisse pubblicato in francese e in italiano, dall’altro temo che tagli troppo radicali possano dare adito a fraintendimenti. Per questo ho chiesto a Fayard che mi propongano loro i tagli da fare, e solo allora deciderò se accettarli o meno. Forse la stessa soluzione potrebbe valere anche per Mursia, oppure potrei proporre loro gli stessi tagli dell’edizione francese, se li troverò accettabili.

Ancora una volta: grazie e abbi cura di te il più possibile.

Saluti cari, tuo

Hermann

Vienna, October 4, 1974

Mr.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro Amico,

Thanks so much for your letter of September 28, which this time did not even take as long as mail from Italy usually does.

I am truly sorry you have declined to participate in the panel discussion in Israel, and even sorrier to hear of your worries about your mother. In any case, it looks as if the demonstration in Israel will have to be canceled: the financial outlook is quite glum and the Israeli organization is creating such petty obstacles that it is difficult to imagine how such a large event would ultimately work out.

Thank you—once again, truly—for interceding with Mr. Tozzi. My publisher here said he has received no mail from Mursia (who could be responsible, the post office or one of the two publishers?). I have now asked my publisher to speak to Mursia at the Frankfurt Book Fair (which is starting soon). I am in a similar situation with Fayard because of the French translation: he also wants to make another major cut (after I had suggested cutting around 80 pages there too). Ultimately, I do not know how to decide: on the one hand, I would be happy if this book were published in French and Italian; on the other hand, I am afraid that if it is shortened too much, it could lead to misunderstandings. So I have now suggested to Fayard that he suggest the cuts, and only then will I decide whether I accept them or not. Perhaps the same could apply to Mursia, or these cuts could also be used for the Italian translation—if they strike me as acceptable.

Once again: thanks, and I hope all is well as can be with you.

Warmly,

Hermann

Wien, den 4. Oktober 1974

Dott.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro Amico,

Danke sehr für Deinen Brief vom 28.9., der diesmal nicht einmal so lange hergebraucht hat wie sonst oft Post aus Italien.

Mir tuts recht leid, dass Du abgesagt hast, an der Podiumsdiskussion in Israel teilzunehmen. Und noch mehr, dass Du Sorgen wegen Deiner Mutter hast. Allerdings schaut es so aus, als ob die Kundgebung in Israel abgesagt werden müsste: Finanziell schaut es recht traurig aus und die israelische Organisation macht so kleinliche Schwierigkeiten, dass man sich schwer vorstellen kann, wie eine so grosse Kundgebung schliesslich klappen könnte.

Danke – nochmals und wiederum – für Deine Verwendung bei Herrn Tozzi. Mein Verlag hier sagte, er hätte von Mursia keine Post erhalten (an wems liegen sollt, an der Post oder an einem der beiden Verlage?). Ich habe nun meinen Verlag gebeten, auf der Frankfurter Buchmesse (die demnächst beginnt) mit Mursia zu sprechen. In einer ähnlichen Situation bin ich wegen der französischen Übersetzung bei Fayard: Auch er will (nachdem ich auch dort den Kürzungsvorschlag von etwa 80 Seiten Umfang gemacht hatte) eine weitere radikale Kürzung. Und da ich nicht weiss, wie ich schliesslich entscheiden soll: Einerseits wär ich froh, wenn dieses Buch in französisch und italienisch erscheint, andererseits hab ich Angst, dass es – zu radikal gekürzt – zu Missverständnissen führen könnte. So habe ich nun Fayard vorgeschlagen, mir einen Kürzungsvorschlag zu machen und ich entscheide dann erst, ob ich ihn akzeptiere oder nicht. Vielleicht könnte dasselbe auch für Mursia gelten, beziehungsweise man könnte dann diese Kürzungen – falls sie mir akzeptabel erscheinen – auch für die italienische Übersetzung verwenden.

Nochmals: Danke und lass Dirs möglichst gut gehen.

Herzlichst Dein

Hermann

Vienna, October 4, 1974

Mr.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro Amico,

Thanks so much for your letter of September 28, which this time did not even take as long as mail from Italy usually does.

I am truly sorry you have declined to participate in the panel discussion in Israel, and even sorrier to hear of your worries about your mother. In any case, it looks as if the demonstration in Israel will have to be canceled: the financial outlook is quite glum and the Israeli organization is creating such petty obstacles that it is difficult to imagine how such a large event would ultimately work out.

Thank you—once again, truly—for interceding with Mr. Tozzi. My publisher here said he has received no mail from Mursia (who could be responsible, the post office or one of the two publishers?). I have now asked my publisher to speak to Mursia at the Frankfurt Book Fair (which is starting soon). I am in a similar situation with Fayard because of the French translation: he also wants to make another major cut (after I had suggested cutting around 80 pages there too). Ultimately, I do not know how to decide: on the one hand, I would be happy if this book were published in French and Italian; on the other hand, I am afraid that if it is shortened too much, it could lead to misunderstandings. So I have now suggested to Fayard that he suggest the cuts, and only then will I decide whether I accept them or not. Perhaps the same could apply to Mursia, or these cuts could also be used for the Italian translation—if they strike me as acceptable.

Once again: thanks, and I hope all is well as can be with you.

Warmly,

Hermann