"All Quiet on the Western Front" (German: "Im Westen nichts Neues") is a novel by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of World War I. The book describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental stress during the war, and the detachment from civilian life felt by many of these soldiers upon returning home from the front.

The novel was first published in November and December 1928 in the German newspaper Vossische Zeitung and in book form in late January 1929. The book and its sequel, "The Road Back", were among the books banned and burned in Germany later. It sold 2.5 million copies in twenty-five languages in its first eighteen months in print.

In 1930, the book was adapted as an Oscar-winning film of the same name, directed by Lewis Milestone.


Plot summary
This is the testament of Paul Bäumer, who enlists with his classmates in the German army of World War I. These young men become enthusiastic soldiers, but their world of duty, culture, and progress breaks into pieces under the first bombardement in the trenches.

Through years of vivid horror, Pauls holds fast to a single vow:

To fight against the hatred that meaninglessly pits young men of the same generation but different uniforms against another ... if only he can come out of the war alive.

Title and translation
The 1930 English translation by Arthur Wesley Wheen gives the title as "All Quiet on the Western Front". The literal translation of "Im Westen nichts Neues" is "Nothing New in the West," with "West" being the war front; the phrase refers to the content of an official communiqué at the end of the novel.

Brian Murdoch's 1993 translation would render the phrase as "there was nothing new to report on the western front" within the narrative. Explaining his retention of the original book-title, he says:

Although it does not match the German exactly, Wheen's title has justly become part of the English language and is retained here with gratitude.

The phrase "all quiet on the western front" later became popular slang for lack of action, initially reference to the Phoney War on World War II's Western Front, but latterly in reference to anything from sport to politics.

Bookray order so far:

1. Danielle23, UK, UK
2. RonOren, UK, UK or intl
3. oppem, USA, US or intl
4. Tubereader, Belgium, EU
5. Raluk68, Romania, EU

Raluk68 may find another reader for the book, or feel free to wild release it.

The package is now on its way to Sunderland. Happy journey book. And happy reading, Danielle23.

Thanks for joining and I hope that you all will like the book and story.

The book has arrived safely today and I will start reading it as soon as I have finished journalling it. Also a great big thank you for the beautiful postcard and the delicious chocolates, I'm eating the strawberry one now and there's not much left ;) xx

I wasn't sure what I expected from this book and when I read it was told through German eyes I was expecting all blame to fall against the French and the British. However, this was a refreshing take on the innocence of young men from all backgrounds who just happen to wear a certain uniform. This was a fantastic book that, although it dealt with a difficult subject, was really easy to read.

I felt devastated for Paul when he went home on leave as the changes the war had made upon him became clearly apparent. The pace of the story seemed to pick up in relation to how many of his original classmates Paul still had around him and it was genuinely moving the way he carried Kat through such a bombardment for such a result.

A great addition to the 1001 list and this takes my total up to 287.

Thank you so much for sharing Simson-Shilitoe. I will PM RonOren for an address and get this posted off soon xx

Posted today to RonOren, the next in line.

Thank you for sharing such a great book, I really enjoyed it and hope everyone else does too xx

Thanks for sending through the book (and the lovely postcard), Danielle23! I'm quite looking forward to this one, even if I expect it to be a good read rather than a nice one. I'll read it on the commute, so shouldn't take too long to get through it...

I thought this was a very impressive book. In a way, it was really fitting that I read this just after The First Casualty, which describes the war from an English side - the two stories were so similar. Which is depressing, yet uplifting: it shows how stupid the war was, that millions of people on either side died for no reason. But at the same time, it reinforced the resilience of humanity: no matter that you're fighting, the guys on the other side are in an equal mess. I couldn't shake the feeling that soldiers from both sides would feel closer to each other than to their respective governments or generals.

Would I call this an enjoyable read? No, it's too harrowing. But it is one that I am very glad I read and which I'd like to read again in the original German (although I must say, it's a very good translation!). Thanks so much for giving me the chance to read this, Simson-Shiltoe!

I'll get in touch with oppem and get the book moving again soon.

Update 07 August: sent to oppem on Friday. Hope you'll enjoy it!

Arrived in today's mail along with another bookray ( bit like buses - you wait forever & then 2 come at once !!).
Anyway, I promise wont be tooooo long in reading this book.
I have one book to finish & will then begin the bookrays.
Thanks RonOren for sending from England.

It is obvious that Remarque experienced this War first hand and that it had a profound effect upon him.
What an amazingly vivid picture he paints in words of how senseless War is on everyone but most of all the youth of Europe - this lost generation that had no life lived prior to the War to fall back up on and unlike the next generation to come along, they had so very little future having been obliged / forced to leave their school years / childhood behind them and grow old so very quickly.
This book should be required reading for everyone - we should all be reminded of the horror's of war, the sacrifices made and just how pointless it all is ....
"Shells, gas clouds, and flotillas of tanks - shattering, corroding, death.
Dysentery, influenza, typhus - scalding, choking, death.
Trenches, hospitals, the common grave - there are no other possibilities".

Will post in Hermiston today & have this little book heading back across the pond to Brussels - hope you enjoy the read .....

The book has arrived safely and it's second on my tbr pile.

Thanks Simson-Shilitoe for sharing and oppem for posting it to me! Will update this post once I start reading the book.

Got it!
Thank you!

I started reading this when I got back from holidays.
It is very well written and heartbreaking :( Good thing nowadays this kind of war does not take place anymore! I'm not saying today's wars are better!
I former times army was mandatory for boys in my country. From the story telling, they say the same method was applied: tough treatment for the recruits to make stand the bad situations..

Goes to the decoy of "Acts of Kindness Sweepstake September".
Surprise - Surprise! :)
Enjoy!

Thank you Raluca for the nice surprise and sorry mine is not as big! :)