059. Hermann Langbein a Primo Levi, 11 novembre 1983

Vienna, 11 novembre 1983

Dott.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino[1]

Caro amico,

ti ringrazio molto per le tue lettere del 31 ottobre e del 3 novembre. Ho inoltrato a Wellers i tuoi commenti dettagliati sul capitolo 9 della nostra documentazione – di cui ti sono molto grato! – affinché possa apportare le dovute correzioni.

Se ripenso al convegno torinese, per me la cosa più preziosa è stata incontrare persone interessanti – e non ultimo: rivedere te. Un convegno come questo – cosa che temevo – non poteva dare più di tanto. Con una tale sovrabbondanza di interventi e simile varietà di argomenti, il dibattito ne esce per forza sacrificato. Credo che in questo genere di imprese, senza dubbio necessarie, bisognerebbe limitare temi e interventi e piuttosto lasciare spazio a un’ampia discussione.

Ti ringrazio per i tuoi sforzi con Mursia. Non mi hanno ancora risposto, ma sono contento se finalmente uscirà l’edizione italiana.

Quando ho scritto loro il 18 ottobre, ho allegato anche un prospetto della nostra documentazione sugli «Omicidi di massa del nazionalsocialismo con il gas tossico» e ho chiesto se fossero interessati a una traduzione in italiano. Poiché neanche questa volta ho avuto risposta, presumo che non ci sia alcun interesse. Pensi che un’edizione italiana sarebbe utile?[2] E in tal caso, conosci un editore che potrebbe essere interessato?

Finora abbiamo trovato solo un editore francese che sta lavorando a una traduzione.

Ti auguro di cuore che le circostanze che ti opprimono così tanto migliorino e che tu possa recuperare appieno le energie per lavorare.

Anche se la mia conoscenza del francese è – come sai – piuttosto scarsa, ho continuato a leggere il tuo libro dopo la prima “annusata” che gli avevo dato; mi avvince così tanto che accetto di poter solo intuire il contenuto di alcune frasi.

Hai già proposto alla casa editrice Fischer di tradurre il libro in tedesco? Sarei felice se si riuscisse a farlo.[3]

Ti mando forti e cari saluti.

Tuo

Hermann

Vienna, November 11, 1983

Mr.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino[1]

Caro amico,

Thanks so much for your two letters of October 31 and November 3. I have forwarded your detailed comments on chapter 9 of our documentation project—for which I send my deepest thanks!—to Wellers so he can make the appropriate corrections.

When I think back to the congress in Turin, for me the most valuable part was meeting interesting people and—last but not least—seeing you again. Such congresses do not do much, I am afraid. With such an overabundance of short presentations and such a broad range of topics, any deep debate necessarily falls to the wayside. I believe that with such ventures, which are certainly necessary, one should limit the number of topics and presentations, and leave time for detailed debate.

Thanks also for your efforts with Mursia. They still have not answered me, but I will be glad if an Italian edition comes out.

When I wrote to them on October 18, I also enclosed a prospectus for Nazi Mass Murder: A Documentary History of the Use of Poison Gas and asked if they would be interested in an Italian translation. Since I received no answer there either, I assume they are not. Do you think an Italian edition would be useful?[2] If so, might you know of a publisher who could be interested in it?

So far we have only found a French publisher who will do a translation.

I very much hope that the circumstances troubling you will improve, and that you will once again be able to work at full strength.

Although—as you know—my knowledge of French is quite poor, I have continued reading your book after sneaking a quick peek; I find it so captivating that I have come to accept that I can only guess at the exact meaning of some sentences.

Have you already suggested to Fischer that it be translated into German? I would be thrilled if that happened.[3]

Sending my most heartfelt greetings,

Yours,

Hermann

Wien, den 11. November 1983

Dott.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino[1]

Caro amico,

Herzlichen Dank für Deine beiden Briefe vom 31. 10. und 3. 11. Ich habe Deine ausführlichen Bemerkungen zum Kapitel 9 unserer Dokumentation – für die ich mich sehr bedanke! – an Wellers weitergeleitet, damit er die entsprechenden Berichtigungen formuliert.

Wenn ich an den Kongress bei Euch zurückdenke, so war für mich das Wertvollste, interessante Menschen kennenzulernen – und nicht zuletzt: Dich wiederzusehen. Derartige Kongresse geben nicht allzu viel, wie ich fürchte. Denn bei einer solchen Überfülle von Kurzreferaten und einem so ausgedehnten Themenkreis muss notwendigerweise jede Diskussion unterbleiben. Ich glaube, man sollte bei derlei Unternehmen, die sicher nötig wären, die Themen begrenzen, ebenso die Referate, und Zeit für eine ausführliche Diskussion lassen.

Herzlichen Dank für Deine Bemühung bei Mursia. Sie haben mir zwar noch immer nicht geantwortet, aber wenn nun die italienische Ausgabe erscheint, so freut mich das.

Als ich Ihnen am 18. 10. schrieb, legte ich auch ein Prospekt unserer Dokumentation über die Nationalsozialistischen Massentötungen durch Giftgas bei und fragte, ob sie an einer Übersetzung ins Italienische interessiert sind. Da auch da die Antwort ausblieb, nehme ich eher an, dass kein Interesse besteht. Glaubst Du, dass eine italienische Ausgabe nützlich sein könnte?[2] Und wenn ja, wüsstest Du einen Verlag, den man dafür interessieren könnte? Bisher haben wir nur einen französischen Verlag gefunden, der eine Übersetzung macht.

Ich wünsche Dir sehr, dass die Umstände, die Dich so bedrücken müssen, sich bessern und Du wieder Deine volle Arbeitskraft nützen kannst.

Obwohl meine Französisch-Kenntnisse – wie Du weisst – recht mangelhaft sind, habe ich die Lektüre Deines Buches fortgesetzt, nachdem ich erst einmal „hineingerochen“ habe; so sehr fesselt es mich, dass ich dabei in Kauf nehme, den Inhalt mancher Satze nur erraten zu können.

Hast Du schon dem Fischer-Verlag vorgeschlagen, das Buch ins Deutsche zu übersetzen? Ich wäre froh, wenn eine solche Übersetzung zustandekäme.[3]

Recht herzlich und fest grüsst Dich

Dein

Hermann

Vienna, November 11, 1983

Mr.
Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino[1]

Caro amico,

Thanks so much for your two letters of October 31 and November 3. I have forwarded your detailed comments on chapter 9 of our documentation project—for which I send my deepest thanks!—to Wellers so he can make the appropriate corrections.

When I think back to the congress in Turin, for me the most valuable part was meeting interesting people and—last but not least—seeing you again. Such congresses do not do much, I am afraid. With such an overabundance of short presentations and such a broad range of topics, any deep debate necessarily falls to the wayside. I believe that with such ventures, which are certainly necessary, one should limit the number of topics and presentations, and leave time for detailed debate.

Thanks also for your efforts with Mursia. They still have not answered me, but I will be glad if an Italian edition comes out.

When I wrote to them on October 18, I also enclosed a prospectus for Nazi Mass Murder: A Documentary History of the Use of Poison Gas and asked if they would be interested in an Italian translation. Since I received no answer there either, I assume they are not. Do you think an Italian edition would be useful?[2] If so, might you know of a publisher who could be interested in it?

So far we have only found a French publisher who will do a translation.

I very much hope that the circumstances troubling you will improve, and that you will once again be able to work at full strength.

Although—as you know—my knowledge of French is quite poor, I have continued reading your book after sneaking a quick peek; I find it so captivating that I have come to accept that I can only guess at the exact meaning of some sentences.

Have you already suggested to Fischer that it be translated into German? I would be thrilled if that happened.[3]

Sending my most heartfelt greetings,

Yours,

Hermann