Description
Book SynopsisPrimo Levi (19191987) was an Italian chemist, writer, and Holocaust survivor who used a combination of testimony, essays, and creative writing to explore crucial themes related to the Shoah. His voice is among the most important to emerge from this dark chapter in human history.
In Primo Levi and the Identity of a Survivor, Nancy Harrowitz examines the complex role that Levi’s Jewish identity played in his choices of how to portray his survival, as well as in his exposition of topics such as bystander complicity. Her analysis uncovers a survivor’s shame that deeply influenced the personas he created to recount his experiences. Exploring a range of Levi’s works, including Survival at Auschwitz and lesser-known works of fiction and poetry, she illustrates key issues within his development as a writer. At the heart of Levi’s discourse, Harrowitz argues, lies a complex interplay of narrative modes that reveals his brilliance as a theorist
Trade Review
‘Essential.’ -- R.C. Conrad * Choice Magazine vol 54:11:2017 *
"…this groundbreaking work…brings new urgency and depth to our understanding of Levi’s testimonial achievement." -- Miranda Johnson, University of Sydney * University of Toronto Quarterly, vol 87 3, Summer 2018 *
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 1 Introduction 2 Primo Levi’s Jewish Identity 3 Primo Levi’s Writerly Identity: From Science to Storytelling 4 Against Autobiography 5 Shame’s Identity 6 Conclusion: Cautionary Tales, Early Poetry Bibliography Index
