All Quiet on the Western Front (The Greatest Historical Novels series)

by Erich Maria Remarque

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All Quiet on the Western ...

by
Erich Maria Remarque

published	1985 by Bantam Books
first published	1928
binding	Hardcover
isbn	0553064061
date added	01-27-07 edit book

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Jeff

Jeff rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

07/08/08

Read in July, 2008

I read about half of this book years ago, in German, for a college class on Weimar literature and culture. And really, half was enough to get the idea, but I always wanted to read the whole thing. It is pretty good, about as I expected.

The interesting thing is that, nowadays, I have an awful lot of context to place this book into -- I know a lot about German history, the history of World War I, the status of Germany and the whole world during the interwar years (when it was published), etc...more

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Stephanie

Stephanie rated it:

(review of isbn 0826416535)

02/29/08

bookshelves: english-12

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: Everyone

After reading All Quiet on the Western Front (written by Erich Maria Remarque), I feel very differently towards World War One particularly, but also to war in general. Prior to reading this book, I had no desire to know of the horrors that take place in a time of war. However, this book, though very graphic at times, has shown me many new insights on war. I always imagined the horrors of war to be things visible to the eye; physical wounds. But by the end of this book, I see that the horrors tha...more After reading All Quiet on the Western Front (written by Erich Maria Remarque), I feel very differently towards World War One particularly, but also to war in general. Prior to reading this book, I had no desire to know of the horrors that take place in a time of war. However, this book, though very graphic at times, has shown me many new insights on war. I always imagined the horrors of war to be things visible to the eye; physical wounds. But by the end of this book, I see that the horrors that take place in the minds of the soldiers that fight in the war are so much more terrifying. War not only has the capability to destroy bodies, countries and populations but also to destroy hope, ways of thinking and purpose in life.
All Quiet on the Western Front follows the story of Paul, a German soldier. His journey in the war as a 20 year old healthy young man starts off strong, with a very brave and nationalistic mindset. Friends on every side and plenty of rations add to his excitement of being on the front line fighting for his country. However, this sort of thinking is very short-lived. By the end of the first chapter, and after the death of one of his friends, Paul insightfully reflects “Youth! We are none of us more than twenty years old. But young? Youth? That is long ago. We are old folk” (18). The amount of sorrow these young men must endure shows in this quote. A common understanding about “old folk” is that they have seen and experienced many things, including much hardship. By likening themselves to “old folk”, Paul gives readers an understanding of how hard life on the front lines is. There is another quote that is probably the most telling of all of how distorted a soldier’s view of life can become because of war. Paul says,
“I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another. I see that the keenest of brains in the world invent weapons and words to make it yet more refined and enduring. And all men of my age, here and over there, throughout the whole world see these things; all my generation is experiencing them with me…Our knowledge of life is limited to death” (173).
Paul’s view of life is entirely without purpose or hope. He has seen so much in the short time he has been in the war, so much so that he has forgotten everything of life before the war. His life has become nothing “but despair, death [and] fear…” I had not realized before I read this book the lasting affects of war on not only a soldier’s body, but in their minds. All Quiet on the Western Front is very eye-opening, fantastically written, and although gory at parts, an overall incredible and gripping read.
Paul also makes a very interesting thought when he says, “And men will not understand us…now it will return to its old occupations, and the war will be forgotten…” (190). This is one of Paul’s closing remarks in this book. It seems that the author is alluding to Remembrance/Veteran’s Day. That is a step that society has taken to ensure that this sacrifice will not be forgotten. I know that the next time Remembrance Day comes around, I will think of it differently. Now that I understand a little bit better what the soldiers really and truly endured by going to war, and how terrible it was for them to do so, I’m sure I will be more grateful for their sacrifice.
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Fenixbird

Fenixbird rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

11/17/07

bookshelves: requiredschoolreading

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in November, 2006

recommends it for: ALL! Truths of war...

Rough translation from the German. Remarque's writing is very deep, and he gives rich characterizations. "All Quiet" made me get to know most of these soldiers rather intimately, for war if nothing else, reminds us of the very basic passion each of us feels for being granted another day or another moment alive. However, a lot the "flow" I believe was lost in this translation. [My essay is below] This book depicts the tragic waste of WWI aka The Great War...never knew anyth...more Rough translation from the German. Remarque's writing is very deep, and he gives rich characterizations. "All Quiet" made me get to know most of these soldiers rather intimately, for war if nothing else, reminds us of the very basic passion each of us feels for being granted another day or another moment alive. However, a lot the "flow" I believe was lost in this translation. [My essay is below] This book depicts the tragic waste of WWI aka The Great War...never knew anything about it really beforehand (except that it started over a dispute in Austria?? Who shot whom?)

[Note: I am renting the movie taken from this fiction novel. If YOU are also a war buff like myself, I recommend these films: "Joyeaux Noel (Merry Christmas)" (World War I) and "The Pianist" (World War II) Somehow their music themes belonged on the silver screen!

[From my essay on this book: "What was most moving of this literary work was the immediacy each solder faced. In particular when faced with the impending death of a fellow soldier, it became clear that each person’s needs were not their first priority but a clear second as they expressed empathy and compassion through extreme valor in trying to keep their wounded comrades alive when on the battlefield-- and as they face what might be their own demise.

A soldier’s perspective certainly moved this reader to retain her belief in pacifism. As "All Quiet" illustrates, there is no apparent glory in war, but rather as Remarque depicts this day-to-day acknowledgment of necessity, sheer robotic conformity and determination to meet that struggle, one has to feel admiration for these young soldiers’ incredible heart in battle. These soldiers, most of them barely more than boys, have their complete outlook changed by the war. Louis Kronenberger aptly expressed:

“It almost certainly had no such fascination for these soldiers; yet All Quiet remains, essentially, a document of men who--however else their lives were disrupted--could endure war simply as war. . .It is about youngsters who were half-puzzled over what it all meant: who were not driven to mental torture because they could not endure what they knew or check their imaginations at what they saw. They sit around, half shrewd, half näive, and speculate now and again....But there is no sense of terrible knowledge, of moral responsibility.” Source: Louis Kronenberger, "War's Horror as German Private Saw It," in The New York Times Book Review, (© 1929 by The New York Times Company; reprinted by permission), June 2, 1929, p. 5.

This writer shares Mr. Kronenberger’s view of the soldiers lacking remorse or a sense of moral responsibility. The young age of the soldiers naturally makes them more programmable to the mechanics of battle and partially as a result of this does change the youths’ outlook on their future. Paul Baumer’s thoughts while he is on leave show how his emotions are juxtaposed between the reality of war and the now seemingly strange hopefulness and familiarity of home and family.

“I bite into my pillow. I grasp the iron rods of my bed
with my fists. I ought never to have come here. Out
there I was indifferent and often hopeless—I will never
be able to be so again. I was a soldier, and now I am
nothing but an agony for myself, for my mother, for
everything that is so comfortless and without end.

I ought never to have come on leave.” Excerpt, pp. 184-5)
. . . "]...less

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Andrea

Andrea rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

05/08/08

recommends it for: EVERYONE

‘The greatest war novel of all time’ is a huge understatement, possibly even an insult to Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front. It is more than just a great war novel – it is maybe truly the greatest novel ever, period. War is the obvious main theme, but it must not be read as a war novel to fully understand the powerful message hidden behind the actions of war in this novel.
Paul Baumer, the protagonist of this novel is pretty much your typical German nineteen year ol...more ‘The greatest war novel of all time’ is a huge understatement, possibly even an insult to Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front. It is more than just a great war novel – it is maybe truly the greatest novel ever, period. War is the obvious main theme, but it must not be read as a war novel to fully understand the powerful message hidden behind the actions of war in this novel.
Paul Baumer, the protagonist of this novel is pretty much your typical German nineteen year old teenage boy. The only difference is World War 1 breaks out and he, along with his classmates, unwittingly enlists himself.
There are several deaths suffered in this book and every single one has beautiful powerful symbolism connected to it. For instance, Major Kemmerich’s boots that were left behind after he died, even though he wanted to carry with him afterlife, is symbolism of how during a war, little things mean the most. The fact the boots were forced left behind by doctors signifies how war deaths are kind of moved aside like it means nothing.
This book was very interesting for me to read, not only because of the war theme but also because I’m American. I picked this book up and read it briefly before I figured out he was German, and it definitely gave me mixed feelings. I was not sure if I should support him and sympathize with him because he set out for the war that pits Germany against America. As I read on, I stopped seeing him as a German boy fighting against American soldiers and started seeing him as a boy fighting in a war. This book has vast impact after impact; I did not see any coming. It had no foreshadowing at all, so when something significant happened, it hit me and left me shell shocked, wanting to read more to find out what happens afterward. I don’t think any other novel ever had that kind of impact on me – for a while after I finished it, I found myself thinking back to the novel. You will feel part of the action, guaranteed - it was such an adrenaline rush to read this. I didn't want to rush through; I wanted to really read it and feel it. Just a complete page-turner for me... I LOVED IT.
It’s not just a war novel – it is a champion novel with champion characters. A wonderful story of growing up fast during bleak times and death, faith, and courage and a bonus shocking ending.
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M.C.

M.C. rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

10/20/07

Read in October, 2007

Before reading "All Quiet on the Western Front," "The Good War" was the one of the few war-related texts that I could actually connect with, because most of the people featured in "The Good War" started out as ordinary citizens who led the average American life. While I read their stories, I thought about how my own life is like a vehicle and that I'm the driver--I'm the one responsible for staying on course while deciding about where I want to go rather than swerv...more Before reading "All Quiet on the Western Front," "The Good War" was the one of the few war-related texts that I could actually connect with, because most of the people featured in "The Good War" started out as ordinary citizens who led the average American life. While I read their stories, I thought about how my own life is like a vehicle and that I'm the driver--I'm the one responsible for staying on course while deciding about where I want to go rather than swerving off and colliding into other people. Then, I thought, what if these other people living along side me, driving their own vehicles of life, were drunk? Should I pull over and tell them to stop? Am I drunk as well?

Then came "All Quiet on the Western Front." I first heard about the book after overhearing a conversion while sitting in the Subway. At that moment, the two men seemed fascinated by a scene in the book portraying a dying horse. When I picked up a copy of the book, I did not expect to read about wounded horses with their entrails dangling.Though that was not the moment that I find most memorable, rather, it was when the narrator realized that those he was fighting were no less human than he was, no less of a brother, a son, or a loved one. Then, when the combat was over, one would walk away free, while the other would sit there dying as his loved ones wonder whether he was alive or dead--or, if they were sure that he was dead,they would be wondering how he died and hope that he died the least painful way.

It was after reading "All Quiet on the Western Front" that I began to see that so much potentials went to waste because of those who have mishaps in their life when they drunkenly goes off course and decides to start wars with other people. Everyone is at least a bystander on one occasion, and it seems that it is up to them to at least stay clear. When you're driving alongside those who are drunk, then I guess you should not go right on and follow them. The narrator didn't--he woke up from the onslaught of killing and saw how all along he had been killing humanity itself by bringing an end to other fellow peoples. ...less

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Paul

Paul rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

08/27/07

Read in November, 2006

recommends it for: Anyone who has seen war firsthand

This book is short, but a must-have read for those understanding the humanity of war. While I cannot even imagine fighting deep in the trenches of WWI, braving shell shock and constant, brazen assaults on my front lines, I can sincerely identify with his feelings as a two-tour veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

All military differences aside (at least this guy knew what his enemy looked like), the deep feelings when you lose one of your own are still dead on--even after all these years. Alon...more

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3 comments

Jd rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

02/07/08

recommends it for: anyone

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

“All Quiet on The Western Front” is in my opinion simply the most powerful anti-war novel ever written. Its author Erich Maria Remarque was a German foot soldier in World War One and writes with great authority.

The plot is straight forward. We join young Paul Baumer before he enlists in the military. We see the idealism and nationalism being bred into him. From there we follow him into training and then to the trenches where his ideals are swept away by the mad horror of war. He mov...more

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Kelly

Kelly rated it:

(review of isbn 0099483475)

05/29/07

bookshelves: fiction

Read in October, 2004

recommends it for: students of european history, anti-war activists

I read this book as a part of a discussion on post-WWI disillusionment, as a lead in to the Lost Generation of writers that are much more famous for that sort of attitude. It is a quick read. It shouldn't take anyone more than a few days of reading to get through it. And it fulfills that purpose admirably, and with the added merit of being a story that is actually interesting to get through. I was concerned that this would basically be an essay thinly veiled as a novel, but it did not give off t...more

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Mika

Mika rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

05/05/08

Read in March, 2005

recommended to Mika by: I found it on my own.
recommends it for: everyone

This book shows you a different side of war. Instead of the books that show you have great or how noble war is this book does not. This book tries to show how teens the same age as me were more or less tricked into fighting a war they didn't even believe in. Unlike world war two, World War one did not really have a reason to begin. (basically ww1 started when countries made pacts with each other to fight with each other. This with the arms race that had been going on, as well as each country so...more

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Maricar

Maricar rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

02/03/08

bookshelves: classics, favorites, historical-fiction

the story of a german soldier's point of view in the thick of world war I. poignant, ironic, sometimes dryly humorous, but always underlying the myriad casualties in war, both physical and emotional. this is a novel that more and more people should read, if only to realize that wars are won and lost by the blood of men on both sides--the justification for which may inevitably become convoluted as to render it obscure to the soldiers themselves as the war itself seemingly endlessly rages on.

...more

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Andy

Andy rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

05/05/08

Read in May, 2008

A high school standard but I can't imagine I would have understood this fully in high school and I'm glad nobody assigned it to me then. A gruelingly painful, mournful book. The writing is resolutely unpretentious and yet incredibly effective in its descriptions both of battle and of states of mind. I'm not really sure how he pulls it off. The portrait of a man feeling irredeemably divorced from his past and his future is heartbreakingly vivid. If literature is meant to offer us experiences that...more

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furies

furies rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

06/14/07

bookshelves: classics, good-more-than-once, historical-fiction, modern-euro-history, war-literature, would-rec

Read in April, 2002

possibly one of my favorite books to come out of WWI.

i read it once, on my own, when i was in high school. later, i read it in one of my courses, women in modern europe, to examine how the crisis of masculinity was revealed in the literature of the time.

this book is brimming with it. it's quite possibly one of the best things i have ever read regarding the concept of the crisis of masculinity, and the term had yet to be coined - hell, history wasn't even close to being gendered ...more

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Henry

Henry rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

07/15/08

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: Everyone

All Quiet on The Western Front was written in 1929 by Erich maria Remarque. It deals, as most people know, with the brutality of the first World War in the trenches of Germany's western front. Don't expect it to be a light read. It's a depressing book in many ways. I'm not sure how it could be otherwise. I really don't know much about the first World War and I really should know more than I do. It was certainly brutal. The book is somewhat graphic and not really a book for kids, but I t...more

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Abi

Abi rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

02/13/08

bookshelves: 20th-century, german, wwi

One of the classics of war literature, for sure. WWI changed the way that Europe thought about war and patriotism, and nowhere is this more clear than in the literature. All Quiet on the Western Front is a masterful portrayal of the horror and humanity of war. The scene in which Paul Baumer is trapped in a shell crater with a Frenchman whom he has killed is one of the most moving and meaningful ever written.
Paul joins up an idealistic young boy fresh out of school, encouraged by his naive tea...more

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Eunice

Eunice added it (review of isbn 0449213943)

06/15/07

bookshelves: in-the-backpack

Read in April, 2000

this is the first of the required reading from high school, college, or otherwise stuff of the book report/diaorama thread--not that i didn't enjoy them all (some i loved, some i loathed), but these are books, kinda like getting assigned seating in class, that i wouldn't have normally encountered by choice, but have gotten acquainted with, for better or for better.

AQOTWF is a good one, from freshman year english class. it was my first picture of unromanticized war. i really got into studyi...more

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Joe

Joe rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

11/19/07

I can't resist books that center around camaraderie and brotherhood in times of trial.

I always find books on warfare fascinating, but it's annoying how formulaic most of them are with the: reluctant hero who rises up and fulfills the call of duty, or the person who overcomes insurmountable odds to achieve what no one thought possible...Heck, who am I kidding, I love those books too! But what's different about "All Quiet" is the humanity of it all. This is not a romanticized clic...more

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Israel

Israel rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

07/15/08

Read in July, 2008

Well, I finished it and it did earn the fifth star. The rest of my review stands, but with a sadness and finality that I didn't feel before the inevitable conclusion of the book. Why do I convince myself that books like this can end "happily"? And would it really have been a "happy" ending if he lives even though millions of others have died? Oh well, I'll have to think about all that. Here's my previous review.
It is for war books what Saving Private Ryan is for w...more

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Chris

Chris rated it:

(review of isbn 0826416535)

04/14/08

bookshelves: literaryfiction, world-war-i

Read in January, 2006

I've read this book a couple times and think its just stunning. My grandfather served in World War I on the German side and I know its irrational, but this book makes me feel a little closer to him. He died long before I was born and no one knows the details of his service, at this time. He was injured at least once that we know of and I have a photo of him in a hospital gown with his uniform hat on. He also was drafted to serve in WWII. I think its a testament to the power of this book tha...more

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Dayna

Dayna rated it:

(review of isbn 0099483475)

10/07/07

bookshelves: favorites

recommends it for: Everyone!

Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front" is called "the greatest war novel of all time" for good reason! Not only is it one of the best war stories I have ever read, it is one of the best books I have ever read! It works as a novel, as a history ... possibly as an autobiography.

It is about World War I ... told from the point of view of a young German soldier named Paul. He and his friends are fighting out on the western front. Through Paul's voice, the author tells of...more

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James

James rated it:

(review of isbn 0449213943)

10/20/07

Read in January, 2004

recommends it for: Anyone

Fiction, but he was there, in the trenches, so I think he knows what he is talking about. This book held me spellbound until I finished it. It took weeks to recover from it. Despite being a History Major and a History fan, I had little prior knowledge of the details of WWI, other than some high-level, bland history knowledge of the facts. This book personalized the war to me, for which I was completely unprepared. I have seen the pictures of the enthusiasm of the people on both sides at the outb...more

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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.84 (6383 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 0.00 (0 ratings)
number of reviews: 479

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