Erich Maria Remarque: ‘The Night in Lisbon’ and ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’

Professor Hui-Chun Cheng discusses the novels ‘The Night in Lisbon’ and ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ by Erich Maria Remarque.

‘The Night in Lisbon’ is Remarque's most moving novel. It is a story of human misery and greatness in war, a story that shows that there is no price for humanity, nor is there a price for inhumanity. There are only stories of woe and misery, of greatness, love and passion. The novel is a parable of the absurd human situation in the sphere of influence of dictatorship.

With ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, Erich Maria Remarque established his international fame and created a timeless image of the horrors of modern warfare. The pacifist novel made Remarque an enemy of the National Socialists, prompting him to emigrate from Germany at an early stage. He later processed his experiences of flight in ‘The Night of Lisbon’.

Hui-Chun Cheng, professor of literary studies, will present Remarque's works and discuss them with the audience.