Summary Of Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet On The Western Front

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Nearly a century ago, Erich Maria Remarque published his third novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, which soon become his most famous work. His novel which depicts the story of eight young German soldiers sent to battle in World War I became a worldwide phenomenon, sold 3.5 million copies in three short years and is now critically acclaimed as“The greatest war novel of all time” (Remarque and Wheen). Despite his German origins, Remarque’s novel harshly criticized the German government as well, as the war in general, producing mixed reactions within his home country. Erich Maria Remarque draws upon his own experiences as a German soldier in WWI and as a member of the ‘lost generation’ to create a compelling and realistic story that criticizes wartime …show more content…

He claimed to feel disconnected and out of place in civilian life after the war. Similarly to a multitude of others who served in WWI, Remarque felt misunderstood by those who did not serve once rejoining society. Despite this, Remarque finished his education and began a short-lived career in teaching. Without a steady income after the end of this career, Remarque began giving piano lessons, writing reviews for local newspapers, and working on novels ( Authors and Artists for Young Adults). During this time, Erich Maria Remarque worked on a number of various novels but could not seem to escape the unforgettable images of death and destruction he witnessed on the battlefield. Because of this, he began writing a novel based upon these experiences which would soon become his most famous novel published in 1929, eleven years after the end of World War I (Fishel). Remarque used his experiences in the German trenches of WWI and his alienation from post-war society to influence the writing of All Quiet on the Western Front, and because of this, many aspects of his life are mirrored in his

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