As Holocaust Memorial day draws to close I would like to pay tribute to Primo Levi, an Italian atheist of Jewish decent and a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
I first became aware of him when I read his book ‘The Periodic Table’ (Il sistema periodico), a collection of short stories retelling his days in Auschwitz but drawing on his profession as a chemist.
I know that I will never understand what went on in those horrific days but his writing gives an insight into the cruelty and debasement of human life that took place. Whilst it is clear where the blame lies, Levi never tried, though his work to rationalise or comprehend what happened to him and to so many others.
His stories are simple, unassuming and beautifully told. They leave a lasting reminder of why the holocaust should never happen again and why we must consider what we see and hear around us and use our voices to speak up against hatred and discrimination.
His collection of short stories ‘Moments of reprieve’ (Lilìt e altri racconti) tells of the rare and fleeting moments when human warmth overcame the adversity within the camp.
His collection of essays ‘Other People’s Trades’ (L’altrui mestiere) describe the indiscriminate way that the concentration camps affected people from all walks of life.
Primo Levi died forty years after leaving Auschwitz by falling three stories from his apartment to the ground floor. He suffered from depression over many years for having been one of the very few who survived the concentration camps.
I have read his books many times. They have filled me both with sadness for the depths of evil to which only humans can stoop but also a profound hope for the human condition.
You can find out more about Holocaust Memorial Day at www.hmd.org.uk
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 