Erich Maria Remarque
Biography
Erich Maria Remarque (1898–1970) was a German-born novelist whose All Quiet on the Western Front (1929) is the most famous anti-war novel ever written. Born Erich Paul Remark in Osnabrück, Germany, he was conscripted at eighteen and served on the Western Front, where he was wounded. His first novel drew on this experience to create a devastating portrait of the physical and psychological destruction wrought by World War I. The Nazis burned his books in 1933, and Remarque emigrated, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen. He continued writing novels about war and exile, but nothing matched the impact of his debut.
Common themes in Erich Maria Remarque's work
Anti-War Literature
A recurring theme throughout Erich Maria Remarque's writing.
World War I
A recurring theme throughout Erich Maria Remarque's writing.
Lost Generation
A recurring theme throughout Erich Maria Remarque's writing.
German Literature
A recurring theme throughout Erich Maria Remarque's writing.
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Why Erich Maria Remarque is still read today
All Quiet on the Western Front is the defining anti-war novel of the twentieth century. Its unflinching portrayal of war's destruction of a generation remains one of the most powerful indictments of militarism ever written.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Erich Maria Remarque?
Remarque was a German novelist whose All Quiet on the Western Front is the most famous anti-war novel ever written.
What is All Quiet on the Western Front about?
Young German soldiers experience the horror, futility, and psychological devastation of World War I trench warfare. Read it free on TextStack.
Why did the Nazis burn Remarque's books?
His unflinching anti-war message contradicted Nazi militarism. He was stripped of citizenship and his books were publicly burned.
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