078. Hans Jürgen Fröhlich a Primo Levi, 19 febbraio 1964

Signor
Dott. Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Amburgo, 19/2/64

Caro, stimatissimo signor Levi,

scopro ora che ha ricevuto il prestigioso premio letterario veneziano per il Suo secondo libro. Le mie più vive congratulazioni! È «uno dei libri più importanti dell’anno» ha detto alla radio il commentatore Heinz von Cramer (che vive a Ischia),[1] parlando della cerimonia di premiazione in una trasmissione sulla letteratura italiana. Be’, da quando ne ho letto due capitoli, ne sono convinto anch’io.

Sono immensamente felice per Lei e spero che possa trovare tanti lettori anche in Germania.

Allo stesso modo, non sa quanto mi farebbe piacere se quest’anno riuscissimo a incontrarci di nuovo. Non oso però indicare delle date, dato che le cose finiscono sempre per andare in modo diverso.

Sono ansioso di leggere la traduzione del suo “L’armistizio”. Per ora lo conosco solo in piccola parte. Dopo averlo letto tutto, proverò di nuovo a scrivere qualche recensione, per la radio o per i giornali.

I resoconti che arrivano da Francoforte mi fanno capire ancora una volta quanto siano assolutamente calzanti le Sue analisi di quei tipi umani in Se questo è un uomo, e quanto abbia colpito nel segno esponendo le motivazioni – ammesso che ce ne siano – di questi burocrati tutt’altro che demoniaci.[2]

Avrò presto Sue notizie? Mi farebbe molto piacere.

Carissimi saluti

Suo

Mr.
Dr. Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Hamburg, February 19, 1964

Most esteemed, dear Mr. Levi,

I have just heard you have been awarded the prestigious Venetian literary prize for your second book. My deepest congratulations! It was “one of the most important books of the year,” according to commentator Heinz von Cramer (who lives in Ischia),[1] who covered the award ceremony in a radio program on Italian literature. Of course, after the two chapters I have read so far, I was also convinced of that.

I am so happy for you, and hope it reaches a lot of readers in Germany as well.

I would also be delighted to meet up again this year. I will not even dare to name any specific dates, since things always turn out differently.

I cannot wait for the translation of The Truce. I still know very little. Once again, after reading the whole thing, I will try to write a review here and there, for radio or newspaper.

The reports from Frankfurt make it clear to me yet again how absolutely accurate your analyses of those characters were in If This is a Man, how unerringly you set out to expose the motives—if there were any—of these not-at-all demonic bureaucrats.[2]

Will I hear from you again soon? I would be most pleased to.

Warmest regards,

Yours,

Herrn
Dr. Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Hamburg, den 19.2.64

Sehr verehrter, lieber Herr Levi,

ich erfahre gerade, daß Sie den angesehenen venezianischen Literaturpreis für Ihr zweites Buch erhalten haben. Meinen allerherzlichsten Glückwunsch dazu! Es sei „eines der wichtigsten Bücher des Jahres gewesen“, sagte der Kommentator im Radio, Heinz von Cramer (wohnt in Ischia),[1] der in einer Sendung über italienische Literatur eben über jene Preisverleihung sprach. Nun, davon war ich nach den zwei Kapiteln, die ich bislang erst gelesen habe, allerdings auch überzeugt.

Ich freue mich außerordentlich für Sie und hoffe, daß sich auch in Deutschland viele Leser finden.

Desgleichen würde ich mich freuen, wenn wir uns in diesem Jahr einmal sehen sollten. Ich wage schon gar keine Termine mehr zu nennen, da es immer wieder anders kommt.

Sehr gespannt bin ich auf die Übersetzung des Waffenstillstands. Noch kenne Ich sehr wenig. Ich werde, nach der Lektüre des ganzen, wieder versuchen, hier und da eine Rezension zu schreiben, Funk oder Zeitung.

Bei den Berichten aus Frankfurt wird mir erneut deutlich und klar, wie absolut zutreffend Ihre Analysen dieser Typen in Si questo è un uomo sind, wie zielsicher Sie angesetzt haben, um die Motive – so vorhanden – dieser so gar nicht dämonischen Bürokraten zu entlarven.[2]

Werde ich bald einmal wieder von Ihnen hören? Es würde mich sehr freuen.

Allerherzlichste Grüße

Ihr

Mr.
Dr. Primo Levi
Corso Re Umberto 75
Torino

Hamburg, February 19, 1964

Most esteemed, dear Mr. Levi,

I have just heard you have been awarded the prestigious Venetian literary prize for your second book. My deepest congratulations! It was “one of the most important books of the year,” according to commentator Heinz von Cramer (who lives in Ischia),[1] who covered the award ceremony in a radio program on Italian literature. Of course, after the two chapters I have read so far, I was also convinced of that.

I am so happy for you, and hope it reaches a lot of readers in Germany as well.

I would also be delighted to meet up again this year. I will not even dare to name any specific dates, since things always turn out differently.

I cannot wait for the translation of The Truce. I still know very little. Once again, after reading the whole thing, I will try to write a review here and there, for radio or newspaper.

The reports from Frankfurt make it clear to me yet again how absolutely accurate your analyses of those characters were in If This is a Man, how unerringly you set out to expose the motives—if there were any—of these not-at-all demonic bureaucrats.[2]

Will I hear from you again soon? I would be most pleased to.

Warmest regards,

Yours,