Eight Stories: Tales of War and Loss

Written by Erich Maria Remarque

Narrated by Andrew Garman

A compelling set of short stories from the author of World War I classic, All Quiet on the Western Front German-American novelist Erich Maria Remarque captured the emotional anguish of a generation in his World War I masterpiece, All Quiet on the Western Front, as well as in an impressive selection of novels, plays, and short stories. This exquisite collection revives Remarque's unforgettable voice, presenting a series of short stories that have long ago faded from public memory. From the haunting description of an abandoned battlefield to the pain of losing a loved one in the war to soldiers' struggles with what we now recognize as PTSD, the stories offer an unflinching glimpse into the physical, emotional, and even spiritual implications of World War I. In this collection, we follow the trials of naive war widow Annette Stoll, reflect on the power of small acts of kindness toward a dying soldier, and join Johann Bartok, a weary prisoner of war, in his struggle to reunite with his wife. Although a century has passed since the end of the Great War, Remarque's writing offers a timeless reflection on the many costs of war. Eight Stories offers a beautiful tribute to the pain that war inflicts on soldiers and civilians alike, and resurrects the work of a master author whose legacy - like the war itself - will endure for generations to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781980015437

Erich Maria Remarque

Erich Maria Remarque was born Erich Paul Remark on June 22, 1898. A writer from an early age, he was conscripted into the German army and fought with the 15th Reserve Infantry Regiment on the Western Front during World War I until he was injured by shell shrapnel and transported to an army hospital to recover. from his injuries. Following the war, Remarque published his first novels under his given name - The Dream Room (Die Traumbude) and Station at the Horizon (Station am Horizont) - before embarking on his most famous work, All Quiet on the Western Front (Im Westen nichts Neues). In publishing this last work, he changed his name, adding the middle name "Maria" to honor his mother and changing the spelling of his last name to reflect his French heritage and to distinguish himself from his earlier works. All Quiet on the Western Front became an international sensation and was translated into dozens of languages, catapulting Remarque into literary fame. The book essentially invented a new genre of writing, where veterans would write about their experiences in war, and Remarque - and after publishing his next book, The Road Back (Der Weg zurück), about the recovery from the war in Germany, used the immense proceeds from his books to buy a villa in Ronco, Switzerland. Remarque's life in Germany became imperiled with he rise of the Nazis and soon, his works were deemed "unpatriotic" and banned throughout Germany. After fleeing the country with his wife, his citizenship was revoked and the Nazi propaganda ministry began spreading lies about Remarque, including the falsehood that he had never served in World War I. Remarque eventually became a United States citizen. Remarque continued to write for the rest of his life, publishing such notable works as Spark of Life, Heaven Has No Favorites and The Night in Lisbon, but none would approach the success of All Quiet on the Western Front. Remarque died of heart failure at the age of 72 in Locarno, Switzerland on September 25, 1970.

Reviews for Eight Stories

[paul9the9well9read · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Eight Stories demonstrates the master lines of Erich Maria Remarque, though perhaps not as powerful as his wonderful novel, All Quiet on the Wesrtern Front. These stories tell of the impact war has on those who have lived through them, soldiers, civilians. And survivors. Remarque write in and lean and almost stark style that contributes to the impact each story carries. Each one moves the reader to think about war in general, to abandon any romantic notions of it, and to understand that the war may comes to an end, but for those who fight in Wars, they will never be truly over.
In story after story, the author powerfully portrays the psychological scars that will never heal, that will never let up, evoking both melancholy and even pain in the reader.
It is a good collection quickly read due to its sparse, straightforward style. It does not just tell stories, it conveys emotions. It leaves readers changed.