Erich Maria Remarque
Biography of Erich Maria Remarque
Full Name and Common Aliases
Erich Maria Remarque, born Erich Paul Remark, is a name that resonates with readers and historians alike. He is often referred to simply as Remarque, a surname that became synonymous with poignant anti-war literature.
Birth and Death Dates
Erich Maria Remarque was born on June 22, 1898, and passed away on September 25, 1970. His life spanned a period of profound change and turmoil, which deeply influenced his writing.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Remarque was a German novelist, best known for his works that vividly depict the horrors of war and its aftermath. His profession as a writer allowed him to articulate the disillusionment and trauma experienced by a generation scarred by conflict.
Early Life and Background
Erich Maria Remarque was born in Osnabrück, Germany, into a modest working-class family. His father, Peter Franz Remark, was a bookbinder, and his mother, Anna Maria, was a homemaker. The family lived in a predominantly Catholic environment, which influenced Remarque's early education. He attended a Catholic primary school and later the University of Münster, where he initially pursued a degree in education.
The outbreak of World War I dramatically altered the course of Remarque's life. At the age of 18, he was conscripted into the German army, serving on the Western Front. The harrowing experiences he endured during the war left an indelible mark on him, shaping his worldview and future literary endeavors.
Major Accomplishments
Remarque's major accomplishment lies in his ability to capture the futility and devastation of war through his writing. His seminal work, "All Quiet on the Western Front," published in 1929, catapulted him to international fame. The novel's unflinching portrayal of the physical and psychological toll of war resonated with readers worldwide, earning critical acclaim and commercial success.
The book's impact was so profound that it was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 1930. Despite its success, the novel faced backlash in Nazi Germany, where it was banned and publicly burned due to its anti-war stance. Remarque's courage in addressing the grim realities of war, despite political opposition, remains a testament to his commitment to truth and humanity.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to "All Quiet on the Western Front," Remarque authored several other notable works that further cemented his reputation as a master storyteller. "The Road Back" (1931) and "Three Comrades" (1936) continued to explore themes of war and its aftermath, delving into the struggles of veterans reintegrating into society.
Remarque's later works, such as "Arch of Triumph" (1945) and "The Black Obelisk" (1956), expanded his literary repertoire, addressing themes of exile, love, and the search for meaning in a fractured world. His ability to weave compelling narratives with deep emotional resonance ensured his place among the literary greats of the 20th century.
Impact and Legacy
Erich Maria Remarque's impact on literature and society is profound and enduring. His works provided a voice to a generation traumatized by war, offering solace and understanding to those who had experienced similar horrors. By humanizing the soldiers and civilians caught in the crossfire, Remarque fostered empathy and compassion among his readers.
His legacy extends beyond literature, influencing subsequent generations of writers and filmmakers who sought to portray the complexities of war and its aftermath. Remarque's commitment to truth and his unwavering belief in the power of storytelling continue to inspire those who seek to understand the human condition.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Erich Maria Remarque is widely quoted and remembered for his poignant insights into the human psyche and the devastating effects of war. His ability to articulate the inexpressible pain and disillusionment experienced by soldiers and civilians alike has made his words timeless. Quotes from his works often capture the essence of the human experience, resonating with readers across different cultures and eras.
Remarque's legacy as a chronicler of war's futility and a champion of peace ensures that his words remain relevant and impactful. His writing serves as a powerful reminder of the need for empathy, understanding, and the pursuit of a more peaceful world. Through his enduring works, Erich Maria Remarque continues to inspire and challenge us to reflect on the past and strive for a better future.
Quotes by Erich Maria Remarque
Erich Maria Remarque's insights on:
Now time is standing still. We’ve torn it in two. Now only we two are here; we two, you and me and no one else.
She had no country, Ravic thought. But she did not need one either. She was at home on all ships. She was at home wherever there was courage and conflict and even defeat if it was without despair. She was not only the goddess of victory, she was also the goddess of all adventurers and the goddess of refugees – so long as they did not give up.
Take twenty years of my life, comrade, and stand up – take more, for I do not know what I can even attempt to do with it now.
An accordion player posted himself at the curb and played La Paloma. The rug peddlers appeared with silken Keshans over their shoulders. A boy sold pistachios at the tables. It looked as it had always looked – until the newspaper boys came. The papers were almost torn from their hands and a few seconds later the terrace, with all the unfolded papers, appeared as if buried under a swarm of huge, white, bloodless moths sitting on their victims greedily, with noiseless flapping wings.
We thought to build us houses, we desired gardens with terraces, for we wanted to look out upon the sea and to feel the wind, but we did not think that a house needs foundations. We are like those abandoned fields full of shell holes in France, no less peaceful than the other ploughed lands about them, but in them are lying still the buried explosives, and until these shall have been dug out and cleared away, to plough will be a danger both to plougher and ploughed.
I felt the sombre grief, that had sunk down in me like a stone, begin to be lapped about by a wild hope, change and in some strange way mingle with hope; the one became the other; the grief, the hope, the wind, the evening, and the beautiful girl between the shining mirror and the lights; yes, for a moment I had a strange intuition that just this, and in a real and profound sense, is life; and perhaps happiness even – love with a mixture of sadness, reverence, and silent knowledge.
The heroes of ancient Greece wept more often than our silly, sentimental modern women. They knew it did no good to hold it back. Our ideal is the impassive courage of a statue. Unnecessary. Be sad and then you’ll soon be over it.
Nobody taught us at school how to light a cigarette in a rainstorm, or how it is still possible to make a fire even with soaking wet wood – or that the best place to stick a bayonet is into the belly, because it can’t get jammed in there, the way it can in the ribs.
It’s all rot that they put in the war-news about the good humour of the troops, how they are arranging dances almost before they are out of the front-line. We don’t act like that because we are in a good humour: we are in a good humour because otherwise we should go to pieces.
The pillars of human society are covetousness, fear, and corruption,” retorted Grau. “Man is evil, but loves the good – when others do it.