The Black Hole of Auschwitz

I assume that this book is a translation of Levi's "L'asimmetria e la vita: Articoli e saggi 1955-1987," published in Italian in 2002. I have not checked out the English translation, but the Italian original is a wonderful book and a great introductio to Levi. I do want to respond to "Old School" who wrote the first review to "The Black Hole." I urge him or her to read Ian Thomson's magnificent biography "Primo Levi: A Life." That Levi committed suicide--and Thomson has no doubt that he did--had its roots in a lifelong battle with depression. Auschwitz may have have compounded his depressive tendencies, but it did not cause them. And there is no evidence to suggest that he committed suicide because his laments about the Holocaust were not being heard. None. Nor will the book under review here supply such evidence. See Thomson, pp, 493ff.

Primo Levi gives us his insight on other authors' works as well as further details of nis own. A book for those who have already read some of his work, especially The Periodic Table and If This Is a Man and The Truce. Levi (and his translators, who are excellent)holds the mirror to humankind's deeds - and still wonders WHY such things came to pass. Not always able to fully explain certain actions (but for pure evil), Levi makes us look inside our own souls, our sence of dignity, our favor for respect of others - or the lack of it. Articles and lectures current to the time of his death - a wonderful book.