The Periodic Table (Primo Levi)

Loosely structured around a selection of the chemical elements, this book is a collection of short stories from the author’s memories of a life working in chemistry, together with a couple of pieces of fiction. The book starts with a long rambling chapter about relations in Piedmont before the war, a collection of memories of people from the author’s past. This is a huge barrier to the reader, but the book becomes much more readable after this opening. Primo Levi is famous for his accounts of Auschwitz and afterwards (If This Is a Man (and) The Truce), and this book continues the theme but mostly focuses elsewhere in his life. The painful march towards Auschwitz is described over several years of people’s ignorance, lack of information and unwillingness to be informed. In working for the army in 1942, he recognises that he could have helped the German war effort and admits that he dismissed this notion, focussing on his desire to prove his worth to people who had labelled him inferior. Later chapters tackle the re-appearance of former captors in business many years later, and the dilemma Levi faced in dealing with them.

These are critical thoughts from a survivor of Europe’s darkest hour, and his commentary on his own actions calls for self-reflection. But the deep nature of this thinking does not make this a great book. There are supreme highs followed by long rambling sections that detract from the overall story. The fictional short stories fit with the book’s title, but fail to add to the overall message. Five stars for the message, three for the writing.