All Quiet on the Western Front

In 1928—only 10 years after the end of World War I—Erich Maria Remarque’s classic war novel was published in Germany. It was an immediate hit: in its first 18 months in print, 2.5 million copies were sold, translated into 22 languages. The title of the novel in German—Im Westen nichts neues—was rendered by its first English translator, A.W. Wheen (whose version is presented in this edition), as All Quiet on the Western Front. The English title has stuck, but the German literally means “nothing new in the West.” It is taken from the very end of the novel. It points to the book’s central theme, which centers on the experience of young Paul Baümer, who is coaxed to join the German army at the beginning of the war. This gripping tale follows Paul and his mates as they navigate the horror, boredom, and stupidity of the First World War. We see the pain of one comrade, who loses a leg, while his friends covet the pair of boots he can no longer wear. We follow Paul’s company as it is whittled