Choice Review

To many critical observers of novels about WW I, Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front ranks at the top as one of the finest. Since its publication in January 1929 (it was serialized earlier in 1928), the novel has maintained its high evaluation, principally because, as Firda explains, Remarque effectively incorporated aspects of his own life, his military training, and his combat experiences. He had been in combat for only a short time before he was wounded and hospitalized. He returned to active duty on 7 November 1918, and the war ended on 11 November. Despite Remarque's short time in combat, as Firda makes clear, Remarque captures in All Quiet the realistic actions of battle and the innermost emotions of frontline soldiers. Woven throughout the novel's entire fabric is Remarque's philosophy about the futility of war and its horrible destructiveness. Firda's thorough study includes the historical background of Germany during WW I, in particular, and up to Hitler's entrance on the world scene, as well as an assessment of other WW I novels by German authors. Firda's carefully structured discussion of the novel is worth reading. Advanced undergraduate through faculty.