All Quiet On Western Front

Name of Reviewer: Jadhav Mrunali Sandeep
Name of the College : Nowrosjee Wadia College, Pune
“All Quiet on the Western Front originally titled as “Im westen Nichts Never” in German meaning “nothing new in the west” is a novel written by Erich Remarque, a German veteran of world war I. It is an anti-war book exposing truths of war. This book was banned by Nazi Germany and was hated so much so that it forced Remarque to flee the country and yet, all around the world it was the most influential book of it’s time.
SUMMARY: The story shows us the horrors of war
through “Paul Baumer” a young german fellow who joins the army with his friends after getting inspired by his teacher’s nationalistic speeches. Here, we are shown how youth was often led into romantisizing war, never realizing the horrors that they would have to face
The story is set on the ‘Westem Front’ of Germany which was the centrestage of death, dismay and bloodshed in World War I.
Throughout the novel there exists a constant tone of sadness which accompanies it’s readers as they read through the reality of Pauls life as he lights on the frontline.
There was scarcity of food, water, they lived in dug out trenches among rodents, the soldiers had to survive death itself by Living in what can be called as “hell on earth” The book tells us the haunting truth of how this war has wiped out an entire generation of youth. and how new recruits would die within weeks of fighting on the battlefields.
The central theme of this novel is how, people, who would have an otherwise normal life were damaged beyond repair by war. As Remarque highlights this when he tells us that when the Soldiers went home feel and on leaves, they could not longer feel a sense of belonging in the very Communities and towns they grew up in. Everything around them seemed strange and distant. It was as if the only thing they were accustomed to was fighting, killing and surviving cruelty of war. As we read forward we realize that this story, although fictional, is reality of many perished Souls who died a silent death amidst a chaotic world. And that almost a century later this book is just as relevant as it was in 1928. The cries of the fallen still echo unheard and humanity continues to march into the shadow of it’s own devastation
EVALUATION : In “All Quiet On The Western Front” Remorque effectively critisizes war, the reasons for war and exposes the truth about Combat experienced by soldiers. This book is for people who are interested in history, wars and those who look for raw unfiltered truth about the cruelty of Wars.
CRITICISM :-Since the book deals with violence. and effects of war there are details. which are very graphic, gruesome and might be triggering to read especially for children and war veterans.
CONCLUSION:- In the end you realize that this story isn’t about glory or triumph, that there are no heroes-only boys
who turn into broken men. and then you are forced to mourn the loss they experience but at the same time question yourself. “Has they world really changed” You mourn humanity itself for the futility of war and the innocence it steals to this day
It makes you realize that “only the dead know the end of war” is statement that carries the only and absolute truth about war.