Letter: Journey to the centre of a vicious circle

Sir: I want in no way to derogate from Primo Levi's witness in citing the lines Inferno 26, vs 118-120, but I must correct Ian Thomson's misinterpretation of them. ('This is one of the greatest hymns to literature and the human spirit ever written.')

In the context Ulysses' speech does not bear a noble aspect but is held to epitomise the arrogant, god-defiant, wicked counsel - hubris - for which Dante condemns Ulysses to hell. It was this same Ulyssean pride which in our age created the hell we call Auschwitz.

Yours faithfully,

DONALD LEE

London, E2

28 February