The Periodic Table

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Primo Levi's The Periodic Table is a collection of short stories that intertwine the author's experiences in Fascist Italy and Auschwitz with his passion for science. This Penguin Modern Classics edition is translated by Raymond Rosenthal and includes an essay on Levi by Philip Roth. A chemist by training, Levi became a profound witness to twentieth-century atrocities. In these poignant reflections inspired by the periodic table, he explores themes from young love to political brutality, using elements as metaphors. For example, 'Iron' honors a mountain-climbing resistance hero, while 'Cerium' recalls improvised cigarette lighters that saved his life in Auschwitz. 'Vanadium' describes a haunting post-war correspondence with his former boss there. Roth's essay features a conversation with Levi, examining his writing process, identity, and the interplay between science, literature, and survival. Levi (1919-87), an Italian Jew and Holocaust survivor, gained recognition in the English-speaking world late in his life and is regarded as one of the century's most compelling voices. The Periodic Table is his most celebrated work, alongside other titles like Moments of Reprieve and If Not Now, When?. Roth, a Pulitzer Prize and Man Booker International Prize winner, adds depth to this edition. If you appreciate this work, you may also enjoy Levi's other writings.