Arch of Triumph by Erich Maria Remarque

Arch of Triumph is a novel written by Erich Maria Remarque in 1945. The Author is well-known for his best war novels ever written.

Arch of Triumph reveals not only the political views from the perspective of an immigrant at the beginning of a war but also reminds the readers that people are loosing their humanity. "All right. Take a good look at this summer. The Summer of 1939. It smells of sulphur. The roses look like snow on a mass grave in the coming winter. We are a gay people in spite of it aren't we? Long live the century of non-intervention! Of the petrifaction of moral instincts! There is much killing going on tonight Boris. Every night! Much killing! Cities are burning, dying Jews are wailing somewhere, Czechs are perishing miserably in the woods, Chinese are burning in Japanese gasoline, the whip-death is creeping through concentration camps..." (Arch of Triumph 404). In this piece, the author shows his attitude towards the passiveness of some European countries towards the capturing of other European countries by Nazi Germany in World War II. Not only it refers to the particular event but also implies casual, every-day situations: people would rather remain un-involved than help each other.

I would highly suggest Arch of Triumph to those who enjoy reading war novels and likes to be educated on history, art and life as a whole.