Erich
Maria Remarque
He
was born in Osnabück, Lower Saxony, into fair circumstances. His
ancestors were French but his family name was ‘Germanized’ in the
earth 19th. Remarque entered a cathedral school at six, and
moved on to the Johannisschle at the age of 10. For a period of time,
Remarque studied at the University of Münster, but had to enlist in the
German army at 18. He was wounded several times on the Western Front.
After his discharge, he took a teacher’s course. Remarque taught for a
year in a school and tried out stonecutting and a test car driver for a
Berlin tire company.
He
married Jutta Zambona. Their relationship was very unsettled.
Remarque
began his writing career as a sporting journalist. Latter, he became the
assistant editor of Sportbild. His first Novel was All Quiet on the
Westerns Front. It sparked off a hurricane of political controversy.
The book had first been rejected by one publisher, but sold 1.2 million
copies in its first year. Later it was soon turned into a film. It banned
in Germany for being anti-German, banned in Poland for being pro-German
and in France it was not allowed to be shown until 1962. Its sequel The
Road Back, was released in 1931.
In
the 1930s, Remaque’s , All Quiet on the Westerns Front and The
Road Back were banned in
Germany and publicly burned by the Nazis
in 1933. In 1938, Remarque lost his citizenship and fled to the US.
He became a citizen and lived in New York an continued to write. He made
friends in Hollywood and married actress Paulette Goddard. He moved to
Switzerland. He died on September 25, 1970.
Some
of his works
Three
Comrades-1937-film-1938
Arch
of Triump-1946-film 1948
Spark
of life –1952
The
Black Obelisk-1956
