Hesburgh Libraries

Exhibit—Elements of Humanity: Primo Levi and the Evolution of Italian Postwar Culture

Monday, August 21, 2017 – Friday, December 15, 2017

Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm Saturday – Sunday: CLOSED

Rare Books and Special Collections, Hesburgh Library

Exhibit Overview

Primo Levi (1919-1987) was the author of fiction, poetry, essays, memoirs and translations and is best known for his first work, Se questo è un uomo, an account of his detention at Auschwitz in 1944/1945. Before he was a writer Primo Levi was a chemist, and throughout his life the two identities intertwined in fascinating and mutually enriching ways, in a constant exploration of possible links between what Levi called "the world of words and the world of things." Levi's writings reflect his deep engagement with various forms of both scientific and humanistic knowledge, as well as with Jewish culture and wisdom. Governing Levi's work as a whole are a profound love of storytelling and an equally profound desire to communicate in friendship. Levi is rightly considered one of the most important authors of the twentieth century.

This exhibit traces the progression and reception of Levi’s writings in first editions from the Primo Levi Collection of the Hesburgh Libraries’ Department of Rare Books & Special Collections. The Primo Levi Collection, developed in conjunction with Italian Studies at Notre Dame, is one of the most important of its kind outside of Italy. It includes all first editions of Levi’s works published within his lifetime as well as first editions of notable translations and adaptations of Levi's writings that document his importance outside of Italy.

The exhibit is curated by Tracy Bergstrom, Hesburgh Libraries.

Contact

Tracy Bergstrom
Curator, Italian Imprints and Dante Collection, and Director, Specialized Collections and Services

e: tbergstr@nd.edu

Learn more about the rare and unique materials held in the Rare Books and Special Collections at: http://rarebooks.library.nd.edu/exhibits/

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