Primo Levi.

by Ian Thomson

Primo Levi Italian writer Primo Levi's account of Auschwitz "If This Is A Man" is recognised as one of the essential books of mankind. No other work interrogates our moral history so incisively or conveys more profoundly the horror of the Nazi genocide. On 11 April 1987, Levi fell to his death in the house where he was born. This book presents his biography. Full description

Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

About the author

Ian Thomson is an English author and journalist, best known for his meticulously researched biography Primo Levi: A Life and his controversial and acclaimed reportage The Dead Yard: Tales of Modern Jamaica. Born in London in 1961 and raised partly in New York City, he studied English at Pembroke College, Cambridge, before embarking on a career as a writer, translator, and teacher.
Thomson’s writing spans biography, travel, history, and literary journalism. His first major work, Bonjour Blanc: A Journey Through Haiti, was praised for its vivid and gripping portrayal of the country’s complex history and culture. His biography of Primo Levi, which took a decade to complete, has been widely regarded as the definitive account of the Italian Holocaust survivor’s life and won the Royal Society of Literature’s W.H. Heinemann Award.
His 2009 book The Dead Yard offered an unflinching exploration of modern Jamaica and received both the Ondaatje Prize and the Dolman Travel Book Award. In addition to his books, Thomson has edited collections, translated Italian literature (notably Leonardo Sciascia), and written for leading publications such as The Guardian, The Observer, and The Times Literary Supplement. He has also taught creative nonfiction and held fellowships at several academic institutions.
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Thomson continues to write and teach. He lives in London with his family.