
A Centaur in Auschwitz
Reflections on Primo Levi's Thinking
Massimo Giuliani(Author)
Lexington Books (Publisher)
Published on 7. October 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
128 pages
978-0-7391-0742-3 (ISBN)
Description
In A Centaur in Auschwitz, Massimo Giuliani sheds new light on Primo Levi's rational, demythologizing approach to suffering and survival. Whether working in narrative or poetic form, Levi grappled with the ambiguities and complexities of innocence and guilt, triumph and loss. Giuliani presents a powerful new means to understand Levi's thought: employing the neologism of salvaction (conveying "salvation" through one's own "action"), Giuliani has developed a "star of salvaction"-a diagram in the shape of a star of David, in which each of the six points leads to a strategy Levi learned for seeking meaning, and thereby salvation, in the misery of Auschwitz. This unique book, with its concise overview of Levi's expression and development as a writer, reveals Primo Levi for what he was: scientist, intellectual, Jew, and dedicated seeker of the roots of human dignity.
Reviews / Votes
This is a small gem of a book. Giuliani renders a complex portrait of Levi's thought and demonstrates how we can live in a world after Auschwitz. -- Stanislao Pugliese, Hofstra University What this profound little work however makes abundantly clear is that the literary testament and example of witnessing [Primo Levi] left behind should continue to interest and edify mankind for many generations to come. * H-Judaic * Recommended. * Choice Reviews * A sensitive and deeply humane account of Levi in all his complexity. -- David Kaufmann, George Mason UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
Weight
188 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7391-0742-3 (9780739107423)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Massimo Giuliani is Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Trent, Italy, and Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.
Content
Chapter 1 Primo Levi in America
Chapter 2 An Intellectual Autobiography: The Periodic Table as the Gateway to Understanding Primo Levi
Chapter 3 Reactions: Primo Levi's Chemistry and His Fascist Education
Chapter 4 "I Am a Centaur": Primo Levi's Self-Portrait
Chapter 5 Number 174517: Understanding and the Conflict of Virtue
Chapter 6 "More by Chance than by Virtue": The Role of Luck in Levi's Weltanschauung
Chapter 7 The Star of Salvaction: The Meaning of "Being Saved"
Chapter 8 Levi's Cultural Judaism: A Religion of Conscience and Freedom
Chapter 9 "Consider that this has been": Primo Levi as a Poet
Chapter 10 In the Ocean of Literature: The Naturalistic-Encyclopedic Style of Levi's Narrative
Chapter 11 Outside of the Circle
Chapter 12 Bibliography
Chapter 2 An Intellectual Autobiography: The Periodic Table as the Gateway to Understanding Primo Levi
Chapter 3 Reactions: Primo Levi's Chemistry and His Fascist Education
Chapter 4 "I Am a Centaur": Primo Levi's Self-Portrait
Chapter 5 Number 174517: Understanding and the Conflict of Virtue
Chapter 6 "More by Chance than by Virtue": The Role of Luck in Levi's Weltanschauung
Chapter 7 The Star of Salvaction: The Meaning of "Being Saved"
Chapter 8 Levi's Cultural Judaism: A Religion of Conscience and Freedom
Chapter 9 "Consider that this has been": Primo Levi as a Poet
Chapter 10 In the Ocean of Literature: The Naturalistic-Encyclopedic Style of Levi's Narrative
Chapter 11 Outside of the Circle
Chapter 12 Bibliography