Primo Levi

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Primo Levi, renowned for his essential works, lived an unremarkable life, managing a paint and varnish factory and caring for his invalid mother until his death in the house where he was born. Ian Thomson provides a compelling account of Levi's extraordinary yet humble existence, revealing the story of a man who became a universal symbol of conscience and humanism. Drawing on exclusive access to family members and previously unseen correspondence, Thomson reconstructs Levi's youth in Turin during Mussolini's regime, his harrowing experiences in Auschwitz, and his challenging reintegration into postwar Italy. The biography presents Levi's multifaceted character, highlighting his love for Louis Armstrong, fast cars, insomnia, and numerous workplace accidents. Thomson delves into the controversies and isolation of Levi's later years, exploring the tensions between his private struggles and his ability to forge friendships, as well as his deep depression juxtaposed with a love for life and ideas. Acclaimed in Britain as "the best sort of history," this biography is poised to become the definitive account of Levi's life and a vital companion to his literary works.