Product Description

Paul Baumer enlisted with his classmates in the German army of World War I. Youthful, enthusiastic, they become soldiers. But despite what they have learned, they break into pieces under the first bombardment in the trenches. And as horrible war plods on year after year, Paul holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the principles of hate that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against each other--if only he can come out of the war alive.
"The world has a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first trank, a man who can bend language to his will. Whether he writes of men or of inanimate nature, his touch is sensitive, firm, and sure."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3168 in Books
• Published on: 1987-03-12
• Released on: 1987-03-12
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 304 pages

From AudioFile
Muller's straightforward, simple delivery underscores the horror and hopelessness depicted in Remarque's powerful WWI novel. Germany's Iron Youth, represented by Paul Baumer and his friends, begin the war as teenagers sure of the justice of their cause and the glory that will be theirs. When these young men are confronted with trench warfare, dying in hellish agony, Paul must face the reality in which he finds himself and prepare for the world to which he will return, irrevocably changed. Reading with a calm, quiet sureness, which heightens the soul-destroying nightmare of Paul's ordeal, Muller's stunning performance demonstrates the reason for his huge following. Recommended by many high schools, this is a must for young adults. S.G. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Inside Flap Copy
Paul Baumer enlisted with his classmates in the German army of World War I. Youthful, enthusiastic, they become soldiers. But despite what they have learned, they break into pieces under the first bombardment in the trenches. And as horrible war plods on year after year, Paul holds fast to a single vow: to fight against the principles of hate that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against each other--if only he can come out of the war alive.
"The world has a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first trank, a man who can bend language to his will. Whether he writes of men or of inanimate nature, his touch is sensitive, firm, and sure."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Customer Reviews

Like A Kick To The Groin
In my own way, I'm an academic. I don't write "reviews," really -- I write essays. It's my training.

But I don't have much analysis for All Quiet on the Western Front. This novel is a swift kick to the genitalia -- it is hard, brutal and painful, and you'll feel it for a while.

It is about the every-man soldier fighting through the trenches of WWI. It is also about his internal life, and how everything becomes exhausted in the face of such horrors; beauty is bleached out of him like a newspaper in the sun. Actual death, it turns out, is only one of a number of war's atrocities.

I always have, and always will support certain military actions -- I continue to believe that force is justified at times (for instance, WWII). That said, this novel makes me hate war, and tremble for those condemned to fight it. It makes war into the sort of last resort that it should have been all along.

I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. At worst, an all-time classic, and very possibly a life-changer. Five stars.

Beautiful, Horrific and Stunning
When I picked up this novel, I was prepared for the violent and realistic portrayal of WWI. What surprised me about the novel were the poetic moments of Paul's perception of war. There are many beautiful and profound passages, which artistically offset the violent descriptions of the war. For years, I considered "The Killer Angels" to be the best war novel that I had read, but I think that "All Quiet..." is a bit better. Highly recommended.

Truely The Greatest War Novel Ever Written
"All Quiet on the Western Front" truly is the greatest war novel ever written. I believe that Erich Maria Remarque accurately depicts the brutality of trench warfare, and the chaos of war. He was so very descriptive in his writing that one felt that he was right beside Paul Baumer in the trenches. This will be a novel that will be remembered as long as WW1 is remembered. One can see from this book the hardships that soldiers from all the countries involved in World War 1 had to endure, the lack of food, water, ammunition, and shelter, etc. This book gives an interesting look at how the German food soldiers fared as well, which is a change from predominate ally "centered" books. All in all, this book is an excellent read for a history buff, or anyone interested in a good read.