The Black Hole of Auschwitz brings together Levi's writings on the Holocaust and his experiences of the concentration camp, as well as those on his own accidental status as a writer and his chosen profession of chemist. In this book Levi rails intelligently and eloquently against what he saw as the ebb of compassion and interest in the Holocaust, and the yearly assault on the veracity and moral weight of the testimonies of its survivors. For Levi, to keep writing and, through writing, to understand why the Holocaust could happen, was nothing less than a safeguard against the loss of a collective memory of the atrocities perpetrated against the Jewish people.
This moving book not only reveals the care and conviction with which he wrote about the Holocaust, but also shows the range of Levi's interests and the skill, thoughtfulness and sensitivity he brought to all his subjects. The consistency and moral force of Levi's reflections and the clarity and intimacy of his style will make this book appeal to a wide readership, including those who have read and been moved by his masterpiece If This is a Man.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Response to Old School's review:
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... more info
Primo Levi's suicide was far from ironic.:
The Amazon blurb about the author shows how little he or she understands about what drove Mr. Levi to commit suicide. He had spent so much energy and effort trying to explain if that's even the word, what had happened during the Holocaust. He felt toward the end of his life that no one was listening and as he and others knew so well, we were bypassing knowledge that would hopefully have led to the end of the madness of war and genocide. It was total despair that caused him to throw himself over the balcony... more info
Levi as commentator on himself and others --:
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... more info
