Who was Erich Maria Remarque? Information about the life, biography, works and books of Erich Maria Remarqu, a German anti-war writer.
Erich Maria Remarque
Erich Maria Remarque was a German novelist who lived from 1898 to 1970. He is best known for his anti-war novel “All Quiet on the Western Front,” which is considered a masterpiece of 20th-century literature.
Remarque was born Erich Paul Remark on June 22, 1898, in Osnabrück, Germany. His parents were working-class people, and he was one of five children. Remarque’s childhood was marked by poverty and hardship, and he was forced to leave school at the age of 16 to help support his family.
During World War I, Remarque was drafted into the German army and served on the Western Front. He was wounded several times and spent a period of time recovering in a hospital. This experience had a profound impact on Remarque, and he became disillusioned with war and the military.
After the war, Remarque worked as a teacher and a sports journalist before turning to writing full-time. He published his first novel, “The Dream Room,” in 1920. However, it was “All Quiet on the Western Front,” published in 1929, that brought him international fame.
The novel is a semi-autobiographical account of Remarque’s experiences in the war and the impact it had on him and his fellow soldiers. It is a powerful anti-war statement that vividly portrays the horrors and futility of war. The book was an instant success and was translated into many languages. It was also adapted into a successful film and stage play.
Following the publication of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Remarque was criticized by the Nazi Party for his anti-war views. His books were banned and burned by the Nazis, and he was forced to flee Germany in 1933. Remarque lived in Switzerland and the United States for much of his life and continued to write novels, many of which dealt with the impact of war on individuals and society.
Remarque was married three times and had several affairs throughout his life. He died of a heart attack on September 25, 1970, in Locarno, Switzerland. Despite the controversies surrounding his work, Remarque is widely regarded as one of the most important writers of the 20th century and a major voice in anti-war literature.
Works
Erich Maria Remarque’s career as a writer began in the early 1920s, after he left his job as a sports journalist. His first novel, “The Dream Room,” was published in 1920, but it was his second novel, “All Quiet on the Western Front,” that brought him international fame.
Published in 1929, “All Quiet on the Western Front” is a powerful anti-war novel that vividly portrays the horrors and futility of war. It was an instant success and was translated into many languages. The book was also adapted into a successful film and stage play.
Following the publication of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Remarque continued to write novels, many of which dealt with the impact of war on individuals and society. Some of his most famous works include “Three Comrades,” “Arch of Triumph,” and “The Night in Lisbon.”
However, Remarque’s career was not without controversy. He was criticized by the Nazi Party for his anti-war views, and his books were banned and burned by the Nazis. He was forced to flee Germany in 1933 and spent much of his life in Switzerland and the United States.
Despite the controversies surrounding his work, Remarque is widely regarded as one of the most important writers of the 20th century and a major voice in anti-war literature. His works have been translated into many languages and continue to be read and studied by people around the world.
