First published in 1929, Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front is a harrowing tale of German soldiers fighting in France. The novel explores the front-line experience of the First World War through the eyes of Private Paul Bäumer, though Remarque also writes extensively on the human condition. His work became an immediate hit: one million copies were purchased in Germany in 1929 alone. Sales of translated editions, available throughout Europe and North America, reached 1.5 million by 1930. Immediately after the book was published, Universal Studios began production of a critically acclaimed film version, which was also distributed worldwide. Despite being an international bestseller, the novel should not be regarded as "pulp fiction." The quality of Remarque's writing makes the novel a literary classic, though the real value of the work lies in his message: war is the ultimate evil. In this regard, All Quiet on the Western...