045. Hermann Langbein a Primo Levi, 24 maggio 1974

Vienna, 24 maggio 1974

Dott.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro amico,

ti ringrazio molto per aver fatto da tramite con il dott. Tozzi e per il modo in cui riesci a mettermi a mio agio nel ringraziarti, scrivendo che tu stesso sei interessato alla pubblicazione di un’edizione italiana del mio libro.

Con lo stesso giro di posta invio per raccomandata al Dott. Tozzi una copia ridotta del mio libro e, per conoscenza, ti mando copia della lettera di accompagnamento. Finora non ho avuto notizie dirette da Tozzi, ma – come dici tu – il servizio postale in Italia non è dei più veloci.

I preparativi per i nostri incontri a Berlino mi stanno prendendo sempre più tempo, e così vado a rilento nel mio lavoro in corso – un libro sulla resistenza nei campi di concentramento nazionalsocialisti e sulle questioni ad essa correlate.[1] È sorta ora la speranza che, in occasione delle celebrazioni per il trentennale della liberazione di Auschwitz, in programma nel gennaio ’75, si possa realizzare in Israele qualcosa destinato a rimanere: stiamo pensando a una specie di fondazione che sostenga le minoranze e i popoli discriminati. Naturalmente, a Berlino dovremo parlarne approfonditamente.

Spero che tu e i tuoi stiate bene e mando come sempre i miei saluti più cari,

Tuo

Vienna, 24 maggio 1974

Dott.
Roberto Tozzi
U. Mursia Ed.
Via Tadino 29
Milano

Gentile Dott. Tozzi,

il mio amico dott. Primo Levi mi ha informato che la sua casa editrice intende pubblicare il mio libro Uomini ad Auschwitz in traduzione italiana, ma in versione ridotta.

Poiché mi farebbe piacere se il libro venisse pubblicato dalla Sua casa editrice, con lo stesso giro di posta Le invio una copia su cui sono stati apportati dei tagli. Penso che questa versione sia più breve di un’ottantina di pagine; altre se ne potrebbero risparmiare rimpicciolendo i caratteri della bibliografia. Credo che questi tagli abbiano una ragion d’essere, ma Le chiedo di inserire una nota per indicare che si tratta di una versione leggermente ridotta: i lettori che la confrontano con l’edizione tedesca non devono essere indotti a credere che io abbia cercato di rettificare alcunché a posteriori.

Se ha deciso di farlo tradurre, La prego di contattare l’Europaverlag di Vienna, che detiene i diritti del libro.

Con i miei migliori saluti

(Hermann Langbein)

Vienna, May 24, 1974

Mr.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro amico,

Many thanks for liaising with Mr. Tozzi, and for making it so pleasant for me to send my thanks by writing that you yourself are interested in an Italian edition of my book being published.

As I write you, I am also sending Mr. Tozzi an abridged copy of my book via registered post, and am sending you a copy of the cover letter I sent him, for your information. I have not yet heard back from Tozzi directly, but—as you say—the Italian postal service is really not quick.

The preparations for our meetings in Berlin are taking more and more of my time, so I am only making slow progress with my real work—a book about the resistance within the National Socialist concentration camps and its problematic nature.[1] The hope has now arisen that, on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in January ‘75, we might set up something more lasting in Israel—we are thinking of a foundation of sorts to support minorities and other people who experience discrimination. Of course, this still needs to be discussed in greater depth in Berlin.

I hope that you and yours are doing well—as always, I send my best, warmest regards, and remain,

Yours,

Vienna, May 24, 1974

Mr.
Roberto Tozzi
U. Mursia Ed.
via Tadino 29
Milano

Esteemed Mr. Tozzi,

My friend Mr. Primo Levi informed me that your publishing house intends to publish my book People in Auschwitz in Italian translation, abridged.

Because I would welcome an edition of my book from your publishing house, I am taking the liberty of sending you a copy with a few cuts already made. I would estimate that this version is approximately 80 pages shorter; additional pages could be spared by using a smaller type size for the bibliography. I believe these cuts are justifiable, and would only request that you include a note clarifying that it is a lightly abridged version—readers who might compare it with the German edition must not have reason to believe I was trying to correct anything after the fact.

Should you decide to issue a translation, I kindly request that you contact Europaverlag Wien, as they hold the rights to this book.

With best regards,

(Hermann Langbein)

Wien, den 24. Mai 1974

Dott.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro amico,

Ich danke Dir recht für Deine Vermittlung bei Dott. Tozzi und für Deine Art, mir den Dank so angenehm zu machen, indem Du schreibst, dass Du selbst auch an der Veröffentlichung einer italienischen Ausgabe meines Buches interessiert bist.

Mit gleicher Post sende ich an Dott. Tozzi ein eingestrichenes Exemplar meines Buches recommandée ab, den Begleitbrief schicke ich Dir in Kopie zu Deiner Information. Bisher habe ich von Tozzi noch nicht direkt etwas gehört, aber – wie Du sagst – die Post in Italien ist wirklich nicht schnell.

Die Vorbereitungen für unsere Berliner Besprechungen verlangen immer mehr Zeit von mir, sodass ich mit meiner eigentlichen Arbeit – einem Buch über den Widerstand in den nationalsozialistischen Konzentrationslagern und seiner Problematik[1] – nur langsam weiterkomme. Es ist nun die Hoffnung aufgetaucht, dass wir anlässlich der 30. Wiederkehr des Tages der Befreiung von Auschwitz im Jänner 75 in Israel etwas ins Leben rufen könnten, was bleibenden Charakter hat – wir denken an so eine Art Stiftung zu Unterstützung diskriminierter Minderheiten und Völker. Freilich muss darüber in Berlin noch ausgiebig beraten werden.

Ich hoffe, dass es Dir und den Deinen gut geht und bleibe – wie immer mit besten, herzlichen Grüssen

Dein

Wien, den 24. Mai 1974

Dott.
Roberto Tozzi
U. Mursia Ed.
via Tadino 29
Milano

Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Tozzi,

Mein Freund Dott. Primo Levi hat mich davon unterrichtet, dass Ihr Verlag mein Buch Menschen in Auschwitz in italienischer Übersetzung herausgeben will, jedoch in einer gekürzten Fassung.

Da ich es begrüsse, wenn mein Buch in Ihrem Verlag erscheint, sende ich Ihnen mit gleicher Post ein mit Kürzungen versehenes Exemplar. Meiner Schätzung nach ist der Umfang dieser Kurzfassung um etwa 80 Seiten geringer; durch kleineren Druck im Literaturverzeichnis könnten weitere Seiten eingespart werden. Ich glaube, dass diese Kürzungen verantwortet werden können, nur bitte ich um Abdruck eines Hinweises, dass es sich um eine leicht gekürzte Fassung handelt – Leser, die es mit der deutschen Ausgabe vergleichen, sollen nicht zur Ansicht kommen, ich hätte nachträglich etwas korrigieren wollen.

Wenn Sie sich für eine Übersetzung entschieden haben, bitte ich Sie, sich mit dem Europaverlag Wien in Verbindung zu setzen, der die Rechte für dieses Buch besitzt.

Mit besten Grüssen

(Hermann Langbein)

Vienna, May 24, 1974

Mr.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Caro amico,

Many thanks for liaising with Mr. Tozzi, and for making it so pleasant for me to send my thanks by writing that you yourself are interested in an Italian edition of my book being published.

As I write you, I am also sending Mr. Tozzi an abridged copy of my book via registered post, and am sending you a copy of the cover letter I sent him, for your information. I have not yet heard back from Tozzi directly, but—as you say—the Italian postal service is really not quick.

The preparations for our meetings in Berlin are taking more and more of my time, so I am only making slow progress with my real work—a book about the resistance within the National Socialist concentration camps and its problematic nature.[1] The hope has now arisen that, on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in January ‘75, we might set up something more lasting in Israel—we are thinking of a foundation of sorts to support minorities and other people who experience discrimination. Of course, this still needs to be discussed in greater depth in Berlin.

I hope that you and yours are doing well—as always, I send my best, warmest regards, and remain,

Yours,

Vienna, May 24, 1974

Mr.
Roberto Tozzi
U. Mursia Ed.
via Tadino 29
Milano

Esteemed Mr. Tozzi,

My friend Mr. Primo Levi informed me that your publishing house intends to publish my book People in Auschwitz in Italian translation, abridged.

Because I would welcome an edition of my book from your publishing house, I am taking the liberty of sending you a copy with a few cuts already made. I would estimate that this version is approximately 80 pages shorter; additional pages could be spared by using a smaller type size for the bibliography. I believe these cuts are justifiable, and would only request that you include a note clarifying that it is a lightly abridged version—readers who might compare it with the German edition must not have reason to believe I was trying to correct anything after the fact.

Should you decide to issue a translation, I kindly request that you contact Europaverlag Wien, as they hold the rights to this book.

With best regards,

(Hermann Langbein)