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Erich Maria Remarque (born Erich Paul Remark) was born on June 22, 1898 into very poor family in Osnabruck, Germany. His father was a bookbinder. During Remarque's childhood his father is forced to move eleven times in a few years. When Remarque turned 18 he volunteered for the German Imperial Army and was sent to the western front. When the war was over, he returned home and tried several different professions as a correspondent, dealer, elementary school teacher and the editor of different newspapers to make a living. Due to his poor childhood, Remarque craved a luxurious lifestyle.
In 1929, his first first novel "All Quiet on the Western Front" was translated into several languages. It became an international bestseller which sold 3.5 million copies in eighteen months. In 1930 it was made into a movie. It created much controversy because it revealed how violent war can be.
In 1933, Remarque's books were forbidden and burned and later his German citizenship was taken away from him. At this time however, he had lived in Switzerland since 1931. He later emigrated to the USA, after obtaining an American citizenship. He continued to write books while living in the USA. These works included "Three Comrades" and "Arc de Triomphe".
He returned to Switzerland in 1948 and later died at the age of 72 in
1970.
Bibliography
Who was Erich-Maria-Remarque? 21.05.1998
<http://www.remarque.de/wer_e.html>
Erich Maria Remarque-Peace Center Osnabrück
<http://www.lili.uni-osnabrueck.de/remarque/internet.htm>
Erich Maria Remarque (1898-1970) © 2000
<http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/remarque.htm>
Erich Maria Remarque William Robertson 1994/12/13
<http://remarque.org/about_remarque.html>
Trenches on the Web © 1996-2000 Mike Iavarone
<http://www.worldwar1.com/tlmob.htm>