Introduction to the Elements

Life and Elements: Individual Stories

Elements and History: World War II

Elements and Post-War Reflections

Conclusion: The Human Connection to Elements

The Periodic Table is a collection of short stories by Primo Levi, each named after and inspired by one of the chemical elements. The tales are centered around the author's experiences as a Jewish-Italian chemist, before and after World War II, artfully merging science, history and allegory.