I'm italian and i love the books of Primo Levi. A little note about the italian man of the "little portion of soup". He was Lorenzo Perrone, a bricklayer. He was a worker of a Italian company hired by the Nazi government. Perrone was part of a group of workers employed near Auschwitz. He came from the same Italian region as Primo Levi: Piedmont. Before the war he worked many times in France. The two men met several times after the war. While Primo began his new life, Lorenzo was unable to recover from the trauma of the war and the violence he saw. Lorenzo became an alcoholic and died of tuberculosis in 1952. Primo was at his funeral. Primo later named his daughter Lisa Lorenza after Lorenzo and his son Renzo (Lorenzo's short name). Primo Levi wrote that Perrone was "poisoned" by the Auschwitz experience, even though he was not a prisoner. Lorenzo had not only helped Primo but two or three other prisoners. In 1998, Yad Vashem recognized Lorenzo Perrone as Righteous Among the Nations. Recently an Italian historian published a book about the story of Lorenzo Perrone.
Hello Bartolo, thanks a lot for writing this to me. I recall from the collection it ends with Primo Levi discovering that he wasn't the only one that the bricklayer had helped. It is very nice to have this context. I hope you enjoyed the review. It was a little difficult to make this one, as it was hard to find a line between speaking to people who have never read any Primo Levi, and then the people I assumed would watch the video, who were very award of Levi's writing. Thanks again for adding this comment, I hope people will read this. This is some very helpful context!
If you are interested in his life story, I would recommend If This Is A Man, or The Periodic Table of Elements. If you would prefer a novel with a lot of excitement, try If Not Now, When?
there's something about some wartime novels that heightens our senses, some superhuman grandeur that brings out heroism in even the smallest details, I can't even put it into words...loved reading "if not now..." this one I haven't read yet, but, as always, what an excellent review! (a while ago I also really enjoyed Remarque's "The Night in Lisbon" (the one from "All Quiet on the Western Front") very generically, two stories that intersect in Lisbon, both about the escape from nazi Germany across Europe to a Lisbon that represents their port of passage to the other side, out of oppression, out of fear, to the USA...and I'll stop, I won't be a spoiler!)
Wow, thanks for the recommendation Cristina! I've never heard of this one. I have always wondered about All Quiet... but never seemed to find a copy in the second hand shop. I just checked it on Wikipedia and it looks quite good. I stopped reading after a few lines so I wouldn't learn too much. Thanks for writing!
@@CristinaInNeverland Thanks Cristina, but I really like to read physical books. Too much time looking at computer screen is terrible for my eyes. It's OK, I'm sure I will find it eventually!
I'm italian and i love the books of Primo Levi.
A little note about the italian man of the "little portion of soup".
He was Lorenzo Perrone, a bricklayer. He was a worker of a Italian company hired by the Nazi government. Perrone was part of a group of workers employed near Auschwitz. He came from the same Italian region as Primo Levi: Piedmont. Before the war he worked many times in France.
The two men met several times after the war. While Primo began his new life, Lorenzo was unable to recover from the trauma of the war and the violence he saw. Lorenzo became an alcoholic and died of tuberculosis in 1952. Primo was at his funeral.
Primo later named his daughter Lisa Lorenza after Lorenzo and his son Renzo (Lorenzo's short name).
Primo Levi wrote that Perrone was "poisoned" by the Auschwitz experience, even though he was not a prisoner.
Lorenzo had not only helped Primo but two or three other prisoners. In 1998, Yad Vashem recognized Lorenzo Perrone as Righteous Among the Nations.
Recently an Italian historian published a book about the story of Lorenzo Perrone.
Hello Bartolo, thanks a lot for writing this to me. I recall from the collection it ends with Primo Levi discovering that he wasn't the only one that the bricklayer had helped.
It is very nice to have this context. I hope you enjoyed the review. It was a little difficult to make this one, as it was hard to find a line between speaking to people who have never read any Primo Levi, and then the people I assumed would watch the video, who were very award of Levi's writing.
Thanks again for adding this comment, I hope people will read this. This is some very helpful context!
Looking forward to reading some of his work. There but for the grace of God....
If you are interested in his life story, I would recommend If This Is A Man, or The Periodic Table of Elements. If you would prefer a novel with a lot of excitement, try If Not Now, When?
Thanks, Grant. Have a great week.
Thanks Deb, I always appreciate you being so supportive!
there's something about some wartime novels that heightens our senses, some superhuman grandeur that brings out heroism in even the smallest details, I can't even put it into words...loved reading "if not now..." this one I haven't read yet, but, as always, what an excellent review! (a while ago I also really enjoyed Remarque's "The Night in Lisbon" (the one from "All Quiet on the Western Front") very generically, two stories that intersect in Lisbon, both about the escape from nazi Germany across Europe to a Lisbon that represents their port of passage to the other side, out of oppression, out of fear, to the USA...and I'll stop, I won't be a spoiler!)
Wow, thanks for the recommendation Cristina! I've never heard of this one. I have always wondered about All Quiet... but never seemed to find a copy in the second hand shop. I just checked it on Wikipedia and it looks quite good. I stopped reading after a few lines so I wouldn't learn too much. Thanks for writing!
@@grantlovesbooks I have the pdf in English, do you want me to send it by email?
@@CristinaInNeverland Thanks Cristina, but I really like to read physical books. Too much time looking at computer screen is terrible for my eyes. It's OK, I'm sure I will find it eventually!
Algorithm!😂
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