Editing Primo Levi (section)

==== 1961–1974 ====
Levi began writing ''The Truce'' early in 1961. It was published in 1963, almost 16 years after his first book, and won the first annual [[Premio Campiello]] literary award that year. It is often published in one volume with ''If This Is a Man'', because it covers his long return through eastern Europe from Auschwitz. Levi's reputation was growing, and he regularly contributed articles to {{lang|it|[[La Stampa]]}}, the Turin newspaper. He worked to gain a reputation as a writer about subjects other than surviving Auschwitz.

In 1963, he suffered his first major bout of depression. At the time he had two young children, and a responsible job at a factory where accidents could and did have terrible consequences. He travelled and became a public figure. But the memory of what happened less than twenty years earlier still burned in his mind. Today, the link between such trauma and depression is better understood. Doctors prescribed several different drugs over the years, but they had variable efficacy and side effects.

In 1964, Levi collaborated with the state broadcaster [[RAI]] on a radio play based on ''If This Is a Man'' and, in 1966, with a theatre production.

Under the pen name of Damiano Malabaila, he published two volumes of science fiction short stories which explored ethical and philosophical questions. They imagined the effects on society of inventions which many would consider beneficial, but which, he saw, would have serious implications. Many of the stories from the two books {{lang|it|Storie naturali}} (''Natural Histories'', 1966) and {{lang|it|Vizio di forma}} (''Structural Defect'', 1971) were later collected and published in English as ''The Sixth Day and Other Tales''.

In 1974, Levi arranged to go into semi-retirement from SIVA in order to have more time to write. He also wanted to escape the burden of responsibility involved in managing the paint plant.<ref>Thomson p. 366.</ref>