All Quiet on the Western Front

by Erich Maria Remarque, Mint Editions (Contribution by)

Overview

One of the most widely acclaimed novels concerning World War I, All Quiet on the Western Front is a poignant antiwar narrative that starkly contrasts with the patriotic rhetoric of its time. 

Narrated by 20—year—old German soldier Paul Bäumer, the story follows a group of young men who eagerly enlist after being captivated by their schoolmaster's propaganda, only to find the romanticized version of war is a brutal illusion. Since its publication, it has served as a powerful testament to the futility of conflict and the profound trauma that forever changed a generation. Erich Maria Remarque's anti—war novel presents a harrowing, graphic depiction of the daily horrors of trench warfare, from poison gas attacks and shell bombardments to the gruesome sight of wounded horses. Through Paul’s disillusionment, the book explores the deep chasm between those who declare war and those who are forced to fight it. To this day it serves as a powerful testament to the futility of conflict and the profound trauma that can forever change a generation, regardless of who survives the battlefield.

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798888976906
Publisher:	Mint Editions
Publication date:	11/11/2025
Pages:	180
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Erich Maria Remarque (1898–1970) was a German novelist whose service as a soldier in World War I. He was conscripted at age 18, wounded by shrapnel, and served on the Western Front. This experience ultimately informed the anti—war sentiment that defines the bulk of his writing. His 1929 debut All Quiet on the Western Front (Im Westen nichts Neues) drew directly from his own harrowing experiences to depict the physical and psychological toll of trench warfare with brutal clarity. The book quickly became an international bestseller, selling nearly 2.5 million copies in 22 languages within 18 months. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest anti—war novels ever written. The novel inspired multiple acclaimed film adaptations (including a 1930 Oscar‑winning version) and sparked fierce controversy. Nazi Germany banned and burned it in 1933, condemning it as unpatriotic. Despite pressure from the state, Remarque continued to write unflinchingly about the horrors of war and the specter of state—sanctioned violence looming over the post—war world.

Read an Excerpt

"Summer of 1918-Never was life in the line more bitter and more full of horror than in the hours of the bombardment, when the blanched faces lie in the dirt and the hands clutch at the one thought: No! No! Not now! Not now at the last moment!"
—from All Quiet on the Western Front

Table of Contents

Introduction     7
Biographical Sketch     9
The Story Behind the Story     17
List of Characters     20
Summary and Analysis     23
Critical Views     52
Brian Murdoch on All Quiet on the Western Front as a Weimar Antiwar Novel     52
Brian Murdoch on Remarque and Homer     57
A.F. Bance on the Novel's Best-seller Status     63
Chris Daley on the Force of Silence in All Quiet on the Western Front     68
Hildegard Emmel on All Quiet on the Western Front as a Weimar Novel     71
Vita Fortunati on the Representation of World War I in Hemingway, Remarque, and Ford Madox Ford     75
Dorothy B. Jones on the Film Version of the Novel     79
Helmut Liedloff on A Farewell to Arms and All Quiet on the Western Front     83
Alfredo Bonadeo on Paul Baumer's Relationship to German Culture     87
Modris Eksteins on the Novel as a Postwar Commentary     92
Hans Wagener on the Final Chapter of All Quiet on the Western Front     96
Robert Baird on Hollywood's Ambivalence to World War I Novels     100
Wilhelm J. Schwarz on Remarque's Memorial to the Unknown Soldier     105
Works   Erich Maria Remarque     110
Annotated Bibliography     111
Contributors     120
Acknowledgments     123
Index     125

Editorial Reviews

The world has gained a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank, a man who can bend language to his will.

“The world has a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank, 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

From the Publisher