Whilst I approached this book knowing very well that it sits within the perspective of a German soldier, any sort of prejudice I had coming into this was thrown out the door by the end of the first chapter. Any sense of nationalistic propaganda is nowhere to be found and instead offered us humanistic themes, empathetic emotions, and a deep, but subtle, heart. Erich Maria Remarque has captured the experience of the front line that its political leaders wouldn't want anyone to hear, see, or feel during wartime. Its characters endure through moments of introspection of their experience and engage in criticism and scepticism towards the agendas that led them there and the ideals that they are supposedly fighting for. No chapter ever feels like a repetitive step, with each moment uncovering something new within the wartime experience and exploring different ideas - or rather angled differently. While other pieces of literature or artforms may draw different or a more comprehensive view of the war but one may find it hard to believe that Remarque - especially if one takes into consideration the time of its release - hasn't made something quite special.