Stamped with O. Kvindesland inside. First year printed

This book is quasi-autobiographical, but it is told in the manner of a fiction book. I have to say that the book's subject matter is difficult to take in, but the writing is so strong and so lyrical, that it makes everything all so real. This particular book still is considered the most realistic book ever written about war and the terrible toll it takes on humankind. The war to end all wars was a despicable war, and many, many thousands of young men died on both sides of the field. Erich Remarque was one of those soldiers but he fought on the German side. His protagonist in this book was also a foot soldier in the German army, who fought through all four years of this terrible war. This is a heartbreaking book, and it is made so because we all know that the ending will be as heart-rending as all the other chapters. But it is a book that should be read by everyone. Nowhere else will you get such an honest description of wartime and the life and death of the soldiers who fought in it. This is a true classic that has stood the test of time, and has also stood up through numerous translations since it was released in 1929. ( )

One of the most captivating books I have read in recent years. This is one book I would recommend to anyone interested in reading no matter the genre. ( )

The great tale of one German soldier's experience in WWI. Grim, depressing and starkly truthful, a 'must read' for a realistic view of that war from the view in the trenches. Really excellent. ( )

Classic work on horrors of war and effects of violence. It is very disturbing how easy it is for powers to be to incite people to enter the fray, jeopardize their lives and sanity for something ..... whatever that is because when faced with death (direct or, what is even worse, indirect) and every-day destruction ideals get forgotten very very fast.

Author shows how people in front-lines and people back home quickly become two societies apart - first shell-shocked to the very core and trying to remain alive, believing that sole purpose of their superiors is to put them into early grave as soon as possible, and second suffering greatly but still believing in ideals and their superiors (which is seen as very childish by the veterans who just want to live and nothing else).

Tremendous stress, constant living in fear causes degression in thinking and brings out what people call base instincts whose sole purpose is survival, everything else is surplus and goes out. When one comes back to normal surroundings he will try to adapt but he is going to miss the "simpler" days and conditions, especially if there are bonds between members of traumatised group (like soldiers in combat unit) - and this is what causes person to just disintegrate through the internal cracks. Today it is called traumatic syndrome this-and-that, previously it was known as shell-shock (which explains in much better terms cause of the problem).

When this happens to people while serving their country in the front lines it is terrible. But when it happens to entire society on purpose by gripping them in the never-ending terror and fear and through constantly changed proclamations that make people question their own sanity it is outright crime.

What is common for all of these situations is that victims just get swept under the rug - soldiers from inglorious wars or civilian's maddened during the period of prolonged crisis. All the deaths, all the victims, for nothing. It should be satisfying that society feels guilt (and thus tries to forget the victims by all cost) but what satisfaction is it for people who died, lost their mind or limbs - and most importantly those that lost their youth and will to live (imagine people traumatised in their late teens, early twenties - light of youth is burning not even at quarter of force it should).

Fear is state of the moment, not meant to be state of one's lifetime. Insisting on it is for all means and purposes crime against humanity - no matter the cause, be it noble [if noble cause can ever be linked to such endeavor] or not. Conditioning and destruction of human beings done in this way will just make automatons of population, creatures that live and die by someone else's decree, creatures that perish not to be mentioned or noticed by anyone, cannon fodder.

It is sad that book, that shows so powerfully how horrors of violence change entire societies, is well known and understood but still today we have same situation - and for some we even do not need war [as it is traditionally described] but malicious and [what is even worse because maliciousness can at least be explained] uncaring leadership in time of crisis.

This is book of warning and as such highly recommended to everyone. ( )