008. Primo Levi a Hermann Langbein, 1 ottobre 1961

1° ottobre 1961

Caro amico,

anzitutto tengo a dirLe che sono davvero dispiaciuto per la sgradevole vicenda che ho appreso dalle sue lettere; non ho capito tutto, ma avendo piena fiducia in Lei non ho nessuna difficoltà ad assecondare il Suo desiderio, e dunque La autorizzo esplicitamente a pubblicare gli estratti del mio libro e a fare del mio compenso l’uso che riterrà più opportuno.

Quanto al signor Haupe, non lo conosco né ho ricevuto lettere da lui.

Le allego le bozze di stampa, con qualche correzione (non conosco abbastanza il tedesco per poter fare una revisione completa); mi permetto di sottoporLe queste osservazioni:

1) Credo sia necessario citare il nome dell’editore italiano (Einaudi) e di quello tedesco (S. Fischer).

2) Non capisco l’uso del corsivo in certe parole e frasi delle prime due pagine.

3) Condivido tutti i tagli,[1] a eccezione del periodo che segue la riga 12 della bozza 49: sono 4 righe, da «Heute…» fino a «… Gemüter ging». Vorrei che questa frase fosse mantenuta.[2]

4) Infine, bisognerebbe pubblicare i due capitoli nel loro ordine naturale, ovvero prima «L’ultimo» e poi «Dieci giorni».[3]

Molti auguri per la buona riuscita del libro, e auguri anche a Lei, che i suoi guai possano risolversi presto e bene.
Il Suo amico

Primo Levi

October 1, 1961

Dear friend,

First of all I want to tell you that I am terribly sorry for the unpleasant situation that I learned of in your letters; I have not understood everything, but since I have complete confidence in you, I have no trouble following your wish, and I explicitly state that I give you permission to publish the excerpts of my book, and to use the “Autorenhonoraren” as you see fit.

As for Mr. Haupe, I do not know him at all, nor have I received any letter from him.

I am enclosing the proofs for you, with a few corrections (I do not know German well enough to do a complete revision); I take the liberty of making the following comments:

1) I believe it is necessary to cite the names of the Italian (Einaudi) and German (S. Fischer) publishers.

2) I do not understand the use of italics in some words and phrases on the first two pages.

3) I agree with all the cuts,[1] except for the sentence that follows line 12 of proof 49: there are 4 lines, from “Heute….” to “…Gemüter ging.” I would like this sentence to be kept.[2]

4) Finally, the two chapters should be published in their natural order, i.e., “The Last One” first, and “Ten Days” next.[3]

I wish you good success with the book, and, for you personally, a favorable solution to your difficulties
Your friend

Primo Levi

1° octobre 1961

Cher ami,

avant tout je tiens à vous dire que je regrette infiniment la désagréable histoire que j’ai apprise par vos lettres; je n’ai pas tout compris, mais comme je garde pleine confiance en vous, je n’ai aucune difficulté à suivre votre désir, et je déclare explicitement que je vous autorise à publier les extraits de mon livre, et à faire des «Autorenhonoraren» l’emploi que vous mieux croirez.

Pour ce qui est de M. Haupe, je ne le connais point, ni j’ai recu aucune lettre de lui.

Je vous complie les épreuves d’impression, avec quelques corrections (je ne connais pas assez l’allemand pour faire une revision complète); je me permets de faire les remarques qui suivent :

1) Je crois qu’il est nécéssaire de citer les noms de l’éditeur italien (Einaudi) et de l’éditeur allemand (S. Fischer).

2) Je ne comprends pas l’emploi du «Kursiv» dans quelques mots et phrases des premières deux pages.

3) Je suis d’accord sur toutes les coupures,[1] à l’exception de la période qui suit la ligne 12 de l’épreuve 49: ce sont 4 lignes, de l’ «Heute….» jusque à «…Gemüter ging». J’aimerais que cette phrase soit conservée.[2]

4) Enfin, il faudrait que les deux chapitres soient publiés dans leur succession naturelle, c’est à dire, le Letzte d’abord, et les Dix jours ensuite.[3]

Je vous souhaite une bonne réussite pour le livre, et à vous personnellement, une heureuse résolution de vos difficultés
Votre ami

Primo Levi

October 1, 1961

Dear friend,

First of all I want to tell you that I am terribly sorry for the unpleasant situation that I learned of in your letters; I have not understood everything, but since I have complete confidence in you, I have no trouble following your wish, and I explicitly state that I give you permission to publish the excerpts of my book, and to use the “Autorenhonoraren” as you see fit.

As for Mr. Haupe, I do not know him at all, nor have I received any letter from him.

I am enclosing the proofs for you, with a few corrections (I do not know German well enough to do a complete revision); I take the liberty of making the following comments:

1) I believe it is necessary to cite the names of the Italian (Einaudi) and German (S. Fischer) publishers.

2) I do not understand the use of italics in some words and phrases on the first two pages.

3) I agree with all the cuts,[1] except for the sentence that follows line 12 of proof 49: there are 4 lines, from “Heute….” to “…Gemüter ging.” I would like this sentence to be kept.[2]

4) Finally, the two chapters should be published in their natural order, i.e., “The Last One” first, and “Ten Days” next.[3]

I wish you good success with the book, and, for you personally, a favorable solution to your difficulties
Your friend

Primo Levi