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Arch of Triumph: A Novel of a Man Without a Country
It is 1939. Despite a law banning him from performing surgery, Ravic � a German doctor and refugee living in Paris � has been treating some of the city’s most elite citizens for two years on the behalf of two less-than-skillful French physicians.
Forbidden to return to his own country, and dodging the everyday dangers of jail and deportation, Ravic manages to hang on � all the while searching for the Nazi who tortured him back in Germany. And though he’s given up on the possibility of love, life has a curious way of taking a turn for the romantic, even during the worst of times�.
Forbidden to return to his own country, and dodging the everyday dangers of jail and deportation, Ravic manages to hang on � all the while searching for the Nazi who tortured him back in Germany. And though he’s given up on the possibility of love, life has a curious way of taking a turn for the romantic, even during the worst of times�.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1945
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About the author
Erich Maria Remarque
215books5,769followersErich Maria Remarque was a German novelist best known for All Quiet on the Western Front (1929), a landmark anti-war novel based on his experiences in World War I. The book became an international bestseller, defining a new genre of veterans� literature and inspiring multiple film adaptations. Its strong anti-war themes led to condemnation by the Nazi regime, which banned and burned his works.
Born Erich Paul Remark in 1898, he adopted the surname Remarque to honor his French ancestry. He served on the Western Front during World War I, where he was wounded, and later pursued various jobs, including teaching, editing, and technical writing. After the massive success of All Quiet on the Western Front, he wrote several other novels addressing war and exile, such as The Road Back, Three Comrades, and Arch of Triumph. His outspoken opposition to the Nazi regime forced him into exile in Switzerland and later the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1947.
Remarque’s personal life included high-profile relationships with actresses Marlene Dietrich and Paulette Goddard, the latter of whom he married in 1958. In 1943, his youngest sister, Elfriede, was executed by the Nazis for anti-regime remarks, an event that deeply affected him. He spent his later years in Switzerland, where he continued writing. His final completed novel, The Night in Lisbon (1962), was another bestseller.
He died in 1970 at the age of 72, leaving behind a literary legacy that continues to shape discussions on war and its consequences.
AKA:
Эрих Мария Ремарк (Russian)
Born Erich Paul Remark in 1898, he adopted the surname Remarque to honor his French ancestry. He served on the Western Front during World War I, where he was wounded, and later pursued various jobs, including teaching, editing, and technical writing. After the massive success of All Quiet on the Western Front, he wrote several other novels addressing war and exile, such as The Road Back, Three Comrades, and Arch of Triumph. His outspoken opposition to the Nazi regime forced him into exile in Switzerland and later the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1947.
Remarque’s personal life included high-profile relationships with actresses Marlene Dietrich and Paulette Goddard, the latter of whom he married in 1958. In 1943, his youngest sister, Elfriede, was executed by the Nazis for anti-regime remarks, an event that deeply affected him. He spent his later years in Switzerland, where he continued writing. His final completed novel, The Night in Lisbon (1962), was another bestseller.
He died in 1970 at the age of 72, leaving behind a literary legacy that continues to shape discussions on war and its consequences.
AKA:
Эрих Мария Ремарк (Russian)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,331 reviews
March 28, 2025
What does it mean to lose one’s country? What does it mean to lose one’s past?
Loneliness and despair and no future� But life must continue and even lost souls try to find their way to the light�
To live again one must join the world of the living� And love is the way.
“Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.� Ecclesiastes 4:11-12
“Mr. Ravic is a lost man. He will never build a home for himself.�
“What?� Veber asked in astonishment. “What’s that you are saying?�
“There is no longer anything sacred to Mr. Ravic. That’s the reason.�
Loneliness and despair and no future� But life must continue and even lost souls try to find their way to the light�
“And all that was before never happened.�
“No. I have forgotten it.�
He felt the light ebb and flow of her breath. Invisibly and tenderly, it was vibrating toward him, without heaviness, ready and full of confidence � a strange life in a strange night. Suddenly he felt his blood. It mounted and mounted and it was more than that: life, a thousand times cursed and welcomed, often lost and rewon � an hour ago still a barren landscape, arid, full of rocks, and without consolation � and now gushing, gushing as if from many fountains, resounding and close to the mysterious moment in which one had not believed any more � one was the first man again, on the shore of the ocean and out of the waves emerged, white and radiant, question and answer in one, it mounted and mounted, and the storm began above his eyes.
To live again one must join the world of the living� And love is the way.
“Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.� Ecclesiastes 4:11-12
March 12, 2021
Jedna z najlepszych książek jakie w życiu przeczytałam.
May 1, 2017
I‘ve tried to write review for Arch of Triumph and I’ve failed. So instead of it some impressions. It’s a love story and grief story; it’s Paris of expatriates, cheap brothels and shabby cafés; it’s hotel International, mecca for fugitives from every corner of Europe, with its rooms embellished with portraits of fascists or their democratic counterparts, depends on whom current exiles are; it’s sea of calvados, nocturnal wanderings, ambience of nostalgia and decadency and harbinger of impending disaster.
It’s doctor Ravic, somewhat cynical and disillusioned refugee from Germany. It’s not his real name but it has brought him luck for last two years so he sticks to it. He needs neither your support nor pity and tries to not become accustomed to anything, neither place nor people, things or love, not even to a body , after all you never know when you again will have to run away. It’s an old porter Boris, émigré from Russia driven by desire for revenge on executioners of his father. It’s a second-rate actress and singer Joan Madou, at first glance fragile and helpless poor thing. But that's an illusion. She is all primary strength and instinct.
She gave herself to whatever she did …Such women were nothing but drinking, when they drank ; nothing but love when they loved; nothing but desperation when they were desperate; and nothing but forgetfulness when they forgot .
Sometimes love catches us off guard and unsolicited falls in our arms. We can defend against it with harsh words and apparent indifference, though nothing works better than bottle of cognac or calvados, or both, and then one more bottle since night is still young, you can say whatever you want, nobody’s listening, pour me calvados, your place or mine ?, let’s drink, salute ! And sometimes it doesn't work.
Remarque masterfully rendered city at the brink of war, inhospitable hotel rooms like poor substitutes for homes, brothels with its makeshift love, sordid cafés you can hide in before loneliness. I’m not sure why this novel appeals to me that way. Am I attracted by that dark aura of pre-war Paris that still doesn’t believe that war it’s just at it gates, or that existential sadness that protagonists try to suppress in spouts of alcohol, or this impossible love and shared solitude, or that Ravic despite his skepticism, cynicism even remains so righteous and idealistic in his deeds, or perhaps these scenes like from kitschy melodrama and love words sometimes so clichéd that you eventually have no other choice like to believe them ?
March 8, 2025
I don't see how you can write books that are all so good... I wonder if the day will come when I don't finish Remarque's book.
March 29, 2024
One of his greatest works
🌳 I say nothing, I suppose, when I say this novel is sad, profound and beautiful. All Remarque’s works are that. However I can only emphasize all those elements are “in Extremis� with this novel. His most powerful and believable love story lies in these pages .. but once again there is no HEA, there never is a Happy Ever After with Remarque.
I struggled with tears at the end. A love that should have grown and thrived does not. Meanwhile there will not be a second Munich either, a second and lasting “peace in our time�; the Maginot Line will not hold back the German tanks; the refugees and Jews and Romani and handicapped and leftists and those who resist the swastika will not all survive almost 6 years of total war.
The human race repeats inhumanity to man and woman and child and beast again and again and it repeats it in the 21st century and it will repeat it in the 22nd as well after we are all gone. We have a sickness. A recurring sickness of war and hate and power and destruction. Sometimes the better angels of our nature prevail. But never for long and never without sacrifice.
🌳 Heartbreaking. Yet certainly one of his best. It is epic and deep.
🌳 I say nothing, I suppose, when I say this novel is sad, profound and beautiful. All Remarque’s works are that. However I can only emphasize all those elements are “in Extremis� with this novel. His most powerful and believable love story lies in these pages .. but once again there is no HEA, there never is a Happy Ever After with Remarque.
I struggled with tears at the end. A love that should have grown and thrived does not. Meanwhile there will not be a second Munich either, a second and lasting “peace in our time�; the Maginot Line will not hold back the German tanks; the refugees and Jews and Romani and handicapped and leftists and those who resist the swastika will not all survive almost 6 years of total war.
The human race repeats inhumanity to man and woman and child and beast again and again and it repeats it in the 21st century and it will repeat it in the 22nd as well after we are all gone. We have a sickness. A recurring sickness of war and hate and power and destruction. Sometimes the better angels of our nature prevail. But never for long and never without sacrifice.
🌳 Heartbreaking. Yet certainly one of his best. It is epic and deep.
May 24, 2023
از عشق با من حرف بزن نام کتابی از نویسنده آلمانی اریش ماریا رمارک است که بیشتر به خاطر رمان در غرب خبری نیست شناخته میشو�. این رمان در سال ۱۹۴۵ منتشر شد و داستان راویک ، یک پزشک آلمانی که از آلمان نازی قبل از شروع جنگ جهانی دوم گریخته و ساکن پاریس شده را روایت می کند. در ادامه داستان راویک با یک زن به نام جوآن آشنا شده و عشق آنها محور داستان میشو�.
نویسنده در این رمان با ارائه یک داستان عاشقانه، تلاش کرده است تا خواننده را به تفکر درباره مسائلی مانند نابرابری اجتماعی، روابط انسانی، گسترش فاشیسم و مسائل مربوط به پناهندگی دعوت کند .
رمارک به موضوعاتی مانند عشق، و دشواریها� بقا در یک دوران نامطمئن و پرتلاطم پرداخته . به همین ترتیب او مسائل و دشواری هایی مانند پناهندگی، اخراج، و یافتن هویتی جدید با رویکرد و دیدگاهی برآمده از جنگ پیش رو را طرح کرده است . نویسنده زندگی پناهندگان در پاریس را با حساسیت و همدردی بیان کرده و تصویری واقعگرایان� از شهر و مردم آن ارائه داده . رمان تصویری واقعگرایان� از زندگی پناهندگان در پاریس را نشان می دهد که در آن ، پناهندگان ازسراسر اروپا از شوروی تا آلمان گرد آمدهان� و در شرایطی از بیخانمانی� فقر و نابرابری زندگی میکنن�. رمارک با بیان تجربیات این پناهندگان، به شکلی عمیق و البته پویا، چالش هایی همیشگی مانند روابط انسانی، فقر، و نابرابری را مطرح کرده است .
رابطه بین راویک و جوآن یکی از محورهای اصلی رمان است. آنها هر دو تحت تاثیر تجربیات خود آسیب دیدهاند� اما در یکدیگر آرامش مییابن�. عشقشان شدید اما شکننده است، زیرا هر دو میدانن� که زمانی که با هم هستند، احتمالا کوتاه است .
رمارک در این رمان شکننده بودن عشق در شرایط سخت زندگی را نشان داده . رابطه بین راویک و جوآن، در برابر شرایط سختی که هر دو با آن روبرو هستند، به چالش کشیده میشو� و نشان میده� که عشق نمیتوان� در برابر همه چیزو یا همه شرایط ایستادگی کند .
از عشق با من حرف بزن گرچه سرشار از توصیفات قدرتمند رمارک است اما آنرا نباید داستانی هیجان انگیز با یک خط پررنگ داستانی دانست . شور بختانه کلام استاد گاهی کلیشه ای شده و گاهی همانند پند و نصیحت تکراری می شود . داستان به سختی و کندی جلو می رود و پایان آن قابل پیش بینی ایست . با این وجود نباید فراموش کرد که گرچه کتاب امروزه تکراری و کلیشه به نظر می رسد اما پیام قدرتمندی درباره� ارزش عشق واقعی به خواننده میده� .
نویسنده در این رمان با ارائه یک داستان عاشقانه، تلاش کرده است تا خواننده را به تفکر درباره مسائلی مانند نابرابری اجتماعی، روابط انسانی، گسترش فاشیسم و مسائل مربوط به پناهندگی دعوت کند .
رمارک به موضوعاتی مانند عشق، و دشواریها� بقا در یک دوران نامطمئن و پرتلاطم پرداخته . به همین ترتیب او مسائل و دشواری هایی مانند پناهندگی، اخراج، و یافتن هویتی جدید با رویکرد و دیدگاهی برآمده از جنگ پیش رو را طرح کرده است . نویسنده زندگی پناهندگان در پاریس را با حساسیت و همدردی بیان کرده و تصویری واقعگرایان� از شهر و مردم آن ارائه داده . رمان تصویری واقعگرایان� از زندگی پناهندگان در پاریس را نشان می دهد که در آن ، پناهندگان ازسراسر اروپا از شوروی تا آلمان گرد آمدهان� و در شرایطی از بیخانمانی� فقر و نابرابری زندگی میکنن�. رمارک با بیان تجربیات این پناهندگان، به شکلی عمیق و البته پویا، چالش هایی همیشگی مانند روابط انسانی، فقر، و نابرابری را مطرح کرده است .
رابطه بین راویک و جوآن یکی از محورهای اصلی رمان است. آنها هر دو تحت تاثیر تجربیات خود آسیب دیدهاند� اما در یکدیگر آرامش مییابن�. عشقشان شدید اما شکننده است، زیرا هر دو میدانن� که زمانی که با هم هستند، احتمالا کوتاه است .
رمارک در این رمان شکننده بودن عشق در شرایط سخت زندگی را نشان داده . رابطه بین راویک و جوآن، در برابر شرایط سختی که هر دو با آن روبرو هستند، به چالش کشیده میشو� و نشان میده� که عشق نمیتوان� در برابر همه چیزو یا همه شرایط ایستادگی کند .
از عشق با من حرف بزن گرچه سرشار از توصیفات قدرتمند رمارک است اما آنرا نباید داستانی هیجان انگیز با یک خط پررنگ داستانی دانست . شور بختانه کلام استاد گاهی کلیشه ای شده و گاهی همانند پند و نصیحت تکراری می شود . داستان به سختی و کندی جلو می رود و پایان آن قابل پیش بینی ایست . با این وجود نباید فراموش کرد که گرچه کتاب امروزه تکراری و کلیشه به نظر می رسد اما پیام قدرتمندی درباره� ارزش عشق واقعی به خواننده میده� .
November 26, 2017
Erich Maria Remarque is best known for his classic masterpiece . Arch of Triumph may not be equal to that but it is very good, a beautifully written novel that stands on it's own merit and one that I enjoyed reading from start to finish. The setting is 1938 Paris, nervous about the unrest in Europe prior to the start of World War II, and filled with expatriates and refugees of many nationalities. Ravic is an accomplished German surgeon, and having fled Nazi Germany, he is living in Paris without passport or documantation. He finds work by performing surgery for two, less than average, French doctors. Really his main goal is to avoid capture and deportation, and survive the coming maelstrom of war. Amid all this turmoil, just when he should least expect it, he falls in love with Joan, an actress.
The characters are few in this novel, really Ravic and Joan drive most of the stories plot, so Remarque has time to fully develop these very interesting characters and this intriguing story line. The reader can feel the tension of the city and fear of it's people in the words of Remarque, and you are left with a feeling of hopelessness for everyone. Remarkable book, I loved it. 4.5 stars.
Review revised November 2017.
The characters are few in this novel, really Ravic and Joan drive most of the stories plot, so Remarque has time to fully develop these very interesting characters and this intriguing story line. The reader can feel the tension of the city and fear of it's people in the words of Remarque, and you are left with a feeling of hopelessness for everyone. Remarkable book, I loved it. 4.5 stars.
Review revised November 2017.
March 7, 2024
از این نویسنده فقط در جبهه� غرب خبری نیست رو خوندم و با خوندن این کتاب ترغیب شدم که بقیه� کتابها� رو هم بخونم. چقدر در مورد عشق عشق یکطرفه� تظاهر، خیانت و دوری خوب نوشته بود. کتابیه که دوباره سراغش میرم و واقعا دوستش داشتم.
April 15, 2023
This is year is the Remarque year for me.
June 13, 2024
" آن چه امروز در دنیا اتفاق می افتاد نه تازه بود و نه دور از انتظار. همه ی این وقایع ده ها بار در طول تاریخ بشریت اتفاق افتاده بودند.
دروغ پردازی ها، زیر پا گذاشتن قول و قرار ها، جنایت ها، کشتارهای نظیر کشتار سن بارتلمی، فسادی که با عطش قدرت همراه است؛ سلسله ی پایان ناپذیر جنگ ها... تاریخ بشریت با خون و اشک نوشته شده بود و میان هزارها مجسمه ی خونین مربوط به گذشته، فقط چندتایی هاله ی خوش قلب دور سر داشتند.
عوام فریب ها، دغلبازها، پدرش ها، آدمکش ها، خودپرست های تشنه ی قدرت؛ پیام آورانی متعصب که شمشیر به دست، عشق به بشریت را موعظه می کردند، همیشه همین بود و هر بار ملت ها مطیعانه اجازه می دادند قیصرها، پادشاهان، سران مذهبی و دیوانه ها آن را در کشتار دسته جمعی احمقانه ای به جان همدیگر بیندازند. این رویدادها پایانی نداشتند."
از عشق با من حرف بزن ی داستان معمولیه که به زندگی پناهنده ها و تاثیرات جنگ بر شرایطشون و تا حدی اوضاع فرانسه در اون دوران پرداخته و برای رنگ دادن به داستان از عشق هم غافل نشده، ریتم کند و گاهی خسته کننده ای داره، بی هیجان و قابل حدس پیش میره... فقط بعضی جمله ها و تفکرات راویک، ظاهر خنثی اما درون پر تلاطم� ، داستان رو کمی از رخوت در میاره تا نبضی هم داشته باشه..
2.5⭐️
دروغ پردازی ها، زیر پا گذاشتن قول و قرار ها، جنایت ها، کشتارهای نظیر کشتار سن بارتلمی، فسادی که با عطش قدرت همراه است؛ سلسله ی پایان ناپذیر جنگ ها... تاریخ بشریت با خون و اشک نوشته شده بود و میان هزارها مجسمه ی خونین مربوط به گذشته، فقط چندتایی هاله ی خوش قلب دور سر داشتند.
عوام فریب ها، دغلبازها، پدرش ها، آدمکش ها، خودپرست های تشنه ی قدرت؛ پیام آورانی متعصب که شمشیر به دست، عشق به بشریت را موعظه می کردند، همیشه همین بود و هر بار ملت ها مطیعانه اجازه می دادند قیصرها، پادشاهان، سران مذهبی و دیوانه ها آن را در کشتار دسته جمعی احمقانه ای به جان همدیگر بیندازند. این رویدادها پایانی نداشتند."
از عشق با من حرف بزن ی داستان معمولیه که به زندگی پناهنده ها و تاثیرات جنگ بر شرایطشون و تا حدی اوضاع فرانسه در اون دوران پرداخته و برای رنگ دادن به داستان از عشق هم غافل نشده، ریتم کند و گاهی خسته کننده ای داره، بی هیجان و قابل حدس پیش میره... فقط بعضی جمله ها و تفکرات راویک، ظاهر خنثی اما درون پر تلاطم� ، داستان رو کمی از رخوت در میاره تا نبضی هم داشته باشه..
2.5⭐️
March 1, 2024
Superbă! Un roman despre viața și moarte, prietenie și dușmănie, dragoste și ură, ororile nazismului și capacitatea oamenilor de a se adapta la orice condiții.
May 1, 2017
An exiled German doctor living in Paris in 1939.
This had all the indicia of a great novel and it was very good, I enjoyed reading it. The first half sets up the plot of a German, Ravic, though that is not his real name � he is literally a man without a country; Germany has exiled him and France will not recognize his medical license because of his political status. He earns a living “assisting� French physicians, though he does the surgeries for them and receives a quarter or a tenth of the pay treating prostitutes and performing abortions and forced to live in a shady hotel because of his legal status.
Set just before World War II, but with the specter of war shadowing everything, this also references his exile into Spain and there are many allusions to Franco’s autocratic reign and his affinity with German fascism.
Introspective and dark, Remarque’s prose is stark yet descriptive, reminiscent of Hemingway. His descriptions of 1930s Paris is noteworthy.
This is also in some ways antithetical to Donne’s famous notion that “no man is an island� as Remarque has cast his protagonist as a post-modern isolated man � separated from his nationality, and this then raises many questions about a person’s relationship with his country, his fellow man, his ideals, morals and religion.
Fans of his masterpiece will want to read this to realize his considerable ability.
This had all the indicia of a great novel and it was very good, I enjoyed reading it. The first half sets up the plot of a German, Ravic, though that is not his real name � he is literally a man without a country; Germany has exiled him and France will not recognize his medical license because of his political status. He earns a living “assisting� French physicians, though he does the surgeries for them and receives a quarter or a tenth of the pay treating prostitutes and performing abortions and forced to live in a shady hotel because of his legal status.
Set just before World War II, but with the specter of war shadowing everything, this also references his exile into Spain and there are many allusions to Franco’s autocratic reign and his affinity with German fascism.
Introspective and dark, Remarque’s prose is stark yet descriptive, reminiscent of Hemingway. His descriptions of 1930s Paris is noteworthy.
This is also in some ways antithetical to Donne’s famous notion that “no man is an island� as Remarque has cast his protagonist as a post-modern isolated man � separated from his nationality, and this then raises many questions about a person’s relationship with his country, his fellow man, his ideals, morals and religion.
Fans of his masterpiece will want to read this to realize his considerable ability.
January 17, 2024
Piękna, przejmująca, oddziałująca na emocje. Historia niemieckiego imigranta, który przebywa nielegalnie we Francji i pracuje jako lekarz, głównie zajmując się pacjentami z paryskiego półświatka. Ravic słucha ich historii, współczuje im, a jednocześnie sam przeżywa koszmar powracającej do niego przeszłości. Pojawia się również wątek romantyczny, który według mnie jest wspaniały - skomplikowany, burzliwy, pełen niedopowiedzeń - jak czasy, w których ten romans się rozwijał. Akcja rozgrywa się tuż przed wybuchem II Wojny Światowej i dosłownie w każdym zdaniu, każdej wypowiedzi bohaterów czuć nieuchronny koniec dotychczasowego świata.
Bardzo poruszająca, ale i przygnębiająca książka!
Bardzo poruszająca, ale i przygnębiająca książka!
August 26, 2016
Trebala bi postojati neka kategorija za knjige koje su poput ove- van kategorije... Pet zvjezdica je ništa.. Oduševila me prije 20-ak godina, a oduševila me i sada.. Uživala u svakoj rečenici u dubokim mislima, opisima, samoj priči...i, naravno, calvadosu... ;) Ne znam jel' do mene, ali mi se čini da se ovakve knjige više ne pišu.. (ok, čast izuzecima.. )... Bila i ostala jedna od mojih omiljenih knjiga svih vremena..
April 18, 2012
One of my favorite books. Remarque at it's best. This book transforms you back in time to post war Paris. You can small the dusty streets, cigars and Calvados in the air when you read it. It will leave you nostalgic and hungry for true love and romance straight from the vintage 30s.
August 24, 2014
My thoughts a bit into the book:
THIS is fantastic! What lines! Did you know that Remarque died in 1970? He didn't JUST write about WW1. Here the year is 1938. The Spanish Civil War, the build-up to WW2 and refugees in Paris are all part of this book. Interesting and exciting and marvelously written. And you want to know why the main character is as he is. You simply MUST understand. Slowly it unfolds. Good stuff. Me, I am enjoying myself as I read this.
And on completion?
Everything that I loved when I began the book remained valid through to the very end.
Ravic and Joan are the two main characters. Ravic is a stateless refugee and an accomplished German surgeon. He is not Jewish; he is not a supporter of the Nazi regime. He is living in Paris without papers and thus forbidden to preform surgeries. His surgical skills are excellent; he has to make a living so he performs surgeries for "acclaimed" French doctors who are inept. They get the acclaim of his prowess, but he survives. He is about 40. He is stateless because he is wanted by the Nazis for hiding two people - a Jewish writer and a man who saved his life fighting in WW1. He has been mercilessly tortured and sent to concentration camp, from which he escaped. All of this explains why at the beginning of the story he is stateless, without papers and living in France, Paris to be exact. The year is 1938 and the story continues through to 1939. Ravic has one aim beyond simply surviving, to get revenge on that Nazi who has tortured him and those he loved. Is it just revenge or is it his duty to shoulder punishment of crimes committed ? Doesn't each and every one of us have to share the burden of retribution? This theme turns the book into a crime novel and the tension mounts as you reach the end.
Another central theme is how war forever alters those who living through them. Ravic took part in the Spanish Civil War too. The book is NOT about war experiences per se but rather about their personal consequences, and the larger perspective of the many who lived through the 20th Century. Through Ravic you see the consequences of history on an individual. I came to understand Ravic.
There is another central character - Joan, who he falls in love with. Joan is another completely different story and I felt the book did not explain as well why she was who she was. This is why my appreciation of the book was less than magnificent.
Really gorgeous writing. Remarque draws Paris superbly, Paris and how it looks and smells and the tension of those times. You follow the events of history through the life of Ravic, his one year hidden in France.
The narration by Ralph Cosham is totally fantastic. It was never too exaggerated to increase tension, but boy does it mount. The excellence of the narration was a total surprise for me since when I listened to the sample I thought it would be way too old-fashioned. No, it was just perfect. And the voices of the women were perfect too. Smooth, calm, pitch-perfect! I loved the narration, and I highly recommend listening to this book rather than reading a paper copy.
And the ending? It fit; it ended as it had to end given Ravic's character and what he had lived through.
THIS is fantastic! What lines! Did you know that Remarque died in 1970? He didn't JUST write about WW1. Here the year is 1938. The Spanish Civil War, the build-up to WW2 and refugees in Paris are all part of this book. Interesting and exciting and marvelously written. And you want to know why the main character is as he is. You simply MUST understand. Slowly it unfolds. Good stuff. Me, I am enjoying myself as I read this.
And on completion?
Everything that I loved when I began the book remained valid through to the very end.
Ravic and Joan are the two main characters. Ravic is a stateless refugee and an accomplished German surgeon. He is not Jewish; he is not a supporter of the Nazi regime. He is living in Paris without papers and thus forbidden to preform surgeries. His surgical skills are excellent; he has to make a living so he performs surgeries for "acclaimed" French doctors who are inept. They get the acclaim of his prowess, but he survives. He is about 40. He is stateless because he is wanted by the Nazis for hiding two people - a Jewish writer and a man who saved his life fighting in WW1. He has been mercilessly tortured and sent to concentration camp, from which he escaped. All of this explains why at the beginning of the story he is stateless, without papers and living in France, Paris to be exact. The year is 1938 and the story continues through to 1939. Ravic has one aim beyond simply surviving, to get revenge on that Nazi who has tortured him and those he loved. Is it just revenge or is it his duty to shoulder punishment of crimes committed ? Doesn't each and every one of us have to share the burden of retribution? This theme turns the book into a crime novel and the tension mounts as you reach the end.
Another central theme is how war forever alters those who living through them. Ravic took part in the Spanish Civil War too. The book is NOT about war experiences per se but rather about their personal consequences, and the larger perspective of the many who lived through the 20th Century. Through Ravic you see the consequences of history on an individual. I came to understand Ravic.
There is another central character - Joan, who he falls in love with. Joan is another completely different story and I felt the book did not explain as well why she was who she was. This is why my appreciation of the book was less than magnificent.
Really gorgeous writing. Remarque draws Paris superbly, Paris and how it looks and smells and the tension of those times. You follow the events of history through the life of Ravic, his one year hidden in France.
The narration by Ralph Cosham is totally fantastic. It was never too exaggerated to increase tension, but boy does it mount. The excellence of the narration was a total surprise for me since when I listened to the sample I thought it would be way too old-fashioned. No, it was just perfect. And the voices of the women were perfect too. Smooth, calm, pitch-perfect! I loved the narration, and I highly recommend listening to this book rather than reading a paper copy.
And the ending? It fit; it ended as it had to end given Ravic's character and what he had lived through.
July 28, 2012
Самая тяжелая книга Ремарка для меня. Может потому что сейчас лето и читать грустные книги полные безнадежности особенно тяжело, когда на улице светит солнце и мир кажется прекрасным, но... такие книги нужно и хочется читать, чтобы ценить свою жизнь. Любимый Ремарк! Ты берешь прямо за сердце и не отпускаешь до конца.
Как всегда главный герой Ремарка и его друзья - люди высокоморальные и заслуживающие лучшей жизни. Беженец Равик (это его ненастоящее имя, но какая разница? он уже привык к выдуманным именам как к своим собственным) бежал из немецкого концлагеря за свое несогласие признать арийскую расу превосходящей другие на земле и поселился в Париже. Ранее он принимал участие в Первой мировой. Он, талантливый хирург, спасший не одну жизнь, не имеет права работать во Франции, т.к. у него нет хоть какого-нибудь удостоверения личности, которое он мог бы показать, чтобы получить визу. Поймают - выпрут из страны. Тем не менее он работает, нет, спасает жизни пациентов.
"Кто ничего не ждет, никогда не будет разочарован."
Это было про Равика, до тех пор, пока он не встретил Жоан. Посредственная актриса без особых талантов, она и в жизни не могла разобраться со своими желаниями, но Равика смогла вернуть к жизни, хотя вроде как он спасал ее. Он наполнился ожиданием, а значит надеждами, хотя даже себе он не мог в этом признаться.
Но любовь у них получилась сложная, ох какая сложная...
И как обычно Ремарк не изменяет своим традициям - в его книгах много алкоголя. На этот раз это кальвадос, который стал своеобразным напитком любви. Из Википедии: "Кальвадо́с (фр. Calvados) � яблочный бренди, получаемый путём перегонки сидра, из французского региона Нижняя Нормандия. Крепость � около 40 градусов." Даже захотелось попробовать.
Как всегда главный герой Ремарка и его друзья - люди высокоморальные и заслуживающие лучшей жизни. Беженец Равик (это его ненастоящее имя, но какая разница? он уже привык к выдуманным именам как к своим собственным) бежал из немецкого концлагеря за свое несогласие признать арийскую расу превосходящей другие на земле и поселился в Париже. Ранее он принимал участие в Первой мировой. Он, талантливый хирург, спасший не одну жизнь, не имеет права работать во Франции, т.к. у него нет хоть какого-нибудь удостоверения личности, которое он мог бы показать, чтобы получить визу. Поймают - выпрут из страны. Тем не менее он работает, нет, спасает жизни пациентов.
"Кто ничего не ждет, никогда не будет разочарован."
Это было про Равика, до тех пор, пока он не встретил Жоан. Посредственная актриса без особых талантов, она и в жизни не могла разобраться со своими желаниями, но Равика смогла вернуть к жизни, хотя вроде как он спасал ее. Он наполнился ожиданием, а значит надеждами, хотя даже себе он не мог в этом признаться.
Но любовь у них получилась сложная, ох какая сложная...
И как обычно Ремарк не изменяет своим традициям - в его книгах много алкоголя. На этот раз это кальвадос, который стал своеобразным напитком любви. Из Википедии: "Кальвадо́с (фр. Calvados) � яблочный бренди, получаемый путём перегонки сидра, из французского региона Нижняя Нормандия. Крепость � около 40 градусов." Даже захотелось попробовать.
November 2, 2023
Podobało mi się� ale nic poza tym, ale ocenę i tak zostawiam wysoką, bo nie zrozumcie mnie źle, ja naprawdę potrafię docenić dobrą książkę i ja wiem, że ta jest BARDZO dobra, ale nie każdy przeczytany tytuł jest w stanie do nas trafić, nawet jeśli jest arcydziełem.
January 22, 2021
This one is filled to the brim with melancholy. This story follows refugees in Paris in 1939 and especially Ravic, German refugee doctor. The war is coming and French are in denial.
“We have! We have one Hindenburg, one Kaiser Wilhelm, one Bismarck, and”—the landlady smiled—“even one of Hitler in a raincoat. It’s a pretty complete collection.[...] Do you want to see the picture? It is in the cellar.� “Not now. Not in the cellar. I’d rather see it when all the rooms in the hotel are filled with the same sort of pictures.� The landlady looked sharply at him for a moment. “Ah so,� she said then. “You mean when they come as refugees.�
Ravic drank his cognac. The Frenchmen at the next table were still talking about their government. About France’s failure. About England. About Italy. About Chamberlain. Words, words. The only ones who did something were the others. They were not stronger, only more determined. They were not braver, they only knew that the others wouldn’t fight. Postponement—but what did they do with it? Did they arm themselves, did they make up for lost time, did they pull themselves together? They watched the others going ahead arming themselves—and waited, passively hoping for a new postponement. The story of the herd of seals. Hundreds of them on a beach; among them the hunter killing one after the other with a club. Together they could easily have crushed him—but they lay there, watching him come to murder, and did not move; he was only killing a neighbor—one neighbor after the other. The story of the European seals. The sunset of civilization. Tired shapeless Götterdämmerung. The empty banners of human rights. The sell-out of a continent. The onrushing deluge. The haggling for the last prices. The old dance of despair on the volcano. Peoples again slowly being driven into a slaughterhouse. The fleas would save themselves when the sheep were being sacrificed. As always.
****
“Everyone knows that there will be war. What one does not yet know is when. Everyone expects a miracle.� Ravic smiled. “Never before have I seen so many politicians who believe in miracles as at present in France and England. And never so few as in Germany.�
I loved to read about his life, work, playing chess with Russian. I loved everything except... Joan. Oh, Joan and this love story. She never felt like a human woman to me. Superficial, insufferable, obsessive, dependent, hysterical. I just never bought that she woke him up and made him want to live first time since the horrors in German camps. Not the way it was written. And I cannot ignore it because this love story was the main plot, book started with it and ended with it.
So that's that, this was my top favourite novel of his when I read it first time in my teens, perhaps because of the melodrama, and now it's my least favourite on reread. But it is still Remarque and I can appreciate his sadness and feeling of doom.
“We have! We have one Hindenburg, one Kaiser Wilhelm, one Bismarck, and”—the landlady smiled—“even one of Hitler in a raincoat. It’s a pretty complete collection.[...] Do you want to see the picture? It is in the cellar.� “Not now. Not in the cellar. I’d rather see it when all the rooms in the hotel are filled with the same sort of pictures.� The landlady looked sharply at him for a moment. “Ah so,� she said then. “You mean when they come as refugees.�
Ravic drank his cognac. The Frenchmen at the next table were still talking about their government. About France’s failure. About England. About Italy. About Chamberlain. Words, words. The only ones who did something were the others. They were not stronger, only more determined. They were not braver, they only knew that the others wouldn’t fight. Postponement—but what did they do with it? Did they arm themselves, did they make up for lost time, did they pull themselves together? They watched the others going ahead arming themselves—and waited, passively hoping for a new postponement. The story of the herd of seals. Hundreds of them on a beach; among them the hunter killing one after the other with a club. Together they could easily have crushed him—but they lay there, watching him come to murder, and did not move; he was only killing a neighbor—one neighbor after the other. The story of the European seals. The sunset of civilization. Tired shapeless Götterdämmerung. The empty banners of human rights. The sell-out of a continent. The onrushing deluge. The haggling for the last prices. The old dance of despair on the volcano. Peoples again slowly being driven into a slaughterhouse. The fleas would save themselves when the sheep were being sacrificed. As always.
****
“Everyone knows that there will be war. What one does not yet know is when. Everyone expects a miracle.� Ravic smiled. “Never before have I seen so many politicians who believe in miracles as at present in France and England. And never so few as in Germany.�
I loved to read about his life, work, playing chess with Russian. I loved everything except... Joan. Oh, Joan and this love story. She never felt like a human woman to me. Superficial, insufferable, obsessive, dependent, hysterical. I just never bought that she woke him up and made him want to live first time since the horrors in German camps. Not the way it was written. And I cannot ignore it because this love story was the main plot, book started with it and ended with it.
So that's that, this was my top favourite novel of his when I read it first time in my teens, perhaps because of the melodrama, and now it's my least favourite on reread. But it is still Remarque and I can appreciate his sadness and feeling of doom.
March 22, 2023
Nawet nie wiem, co mam powiedzieć. Słów mi zabrakło. 4.75
Read
November 4, 2023E kam lexuar këtë libër kur isha në gjimnaz (besoj si shumica). Mbaj mend që më ka pëlqyer aq shumë, sa u betova se një ditë do të provoja pijen e famshme të dardhës, konjakun e Normandisë, Calvados-in. Nuk e dija se ishte një pije e njohur edhe në Shqipëri. E kam zbuluar një natë të ftohtë dimri të 2013-ës në Tiranë. E kisha librin me vete në një pijetore (te “Cheers� për të qenë më e përpiktë) se do ia jepja dikujt ta lexonte dhe pyes banakjerin: - Keni si ajo pija...? Edhe pse e kisha mbajtur emrin ndërmend për vite me radhë, aty për aty, si për dreq, nuk po më kujtohej, ndaj hapa librin dhe e rigjeta. - Po mo, tha banakjeri, pa të keq. Mua më ndritën sytë!
November 3, 2023
Są takie historie, które pochłaniają do reszty, ściskają za serce i żołądek - jedną z nich na pewno jest Łuk Triumfalny - piękny, dojmujaco smutny melodramat, ale także traktat o bezsenoswności wojny, samotności i uchodźstwie.
Niczego lepszego nie przeczytam już w tym roku.
PS. można sobie popłakać
Niczego lepszego nie przeczytam już w tym roku.
PS. można sobie popłakać
December 29, 2022
nieporównywalnie piękna
April 25, 2022
Amazing how simple dialogue can be so captivating. Brilliant writer. I never saw the movie version, but now I don’t want to for fear that the beauty of the author’s writing could never be captured.
July 2, 2024
যুদ্ধে� বিরুদ্ধে আপসহী� দৃঢ়তা নিয়� দাঁড়িয়েছিল� এরিক মারিয়� রেমার্কে� ‘অ� কোয়ায়ে� অন দ্� ওয়েস্টার্� ফ্রন্ট’। স্কালপেল দিয়� চিরে চিরে যুদ্ধে� ভয়াবহতা দেখিয়� লেখক যে� শান্� কর� দিতে চাচ্ছিলে� মুহুর্মুহু গর্জ� ওঠ� ব্যারেলগুলোকে। সে� প্রথ� বোধহয় একটা উপন্যা� কাঁপিয়ে দিয়েছিল� হিটলারের অন্তরাত্মা� আর মানু� অনুভ� করতে পেরেছিলো অনুভূতিহী� স্টিলে� নার্� বয়ে বেড়ান� নাৎসিরাও ভয়ে কেঁপ� যেতে পারে,নাকা� হত� পারে শুধু একটা উপন্যাসে� শক্তির কাছে� ১৯৩৩ সা� তখন। এরিকের‘অ� কোয়ায়ে� অন দ্� ওয়েস্টার্� ফ্রন্ট� বেরিয়� গেছে চা� বছ� আগে। তা� নিজে� রক্তমাংস দিয়� গড়া পল বোমা� চরিত্রটি� না� তখ� মানুষে� মুখে মুখে ফিরছ�,অন্তরে গেঁথ� গেছে মোহর হয়ে� ঠি� সে� সময় হুলিয়� জারি হল� এরিকের নামে� ইহুদী কিংব� কমিউনিস্� কোনো দলেই নে� এরিক� তারপরে� নাৎসির� তা� বাড়িত� হানা দেয়� জা� বাঁচানোর ফর� কাজট� করতে গিয়� তিনি পালালে� সুইজারল্যান্ডে� এদিক� মহাসমারোহে চললো ‘নাৎসি বু� বার্নিং’। নাৎস� বাহিনী� লোকেরা আশপাশে� বইয়ের দোকানগুল� থেকে বই খুঁজ� নিয়� এস� ছুঁড়ে দিচ্ছে আগুনের লকলক� লেলিহা� শিখায়� অবলীলায় হাজা� হাজা� বই মুহূর্তে� হয়ে যাচ্ছে ছা�-ভস্ম।‘হিটলা� চিরজীবী হোন� এই স্লোগানে� আড়ালে চাপা পড়ে অনেকটা নীরবেই পুড়� যাচ্ছে প্রথ� বিশ্বযুদ্ধের অভিজ্ঞতায় লেখা এই কালজয়ী উপন্যাস।
পুড়িয়ে� ক্ষান্� হয়ন� নাৎসির�, নির্দে� দেওয়া হল� কোনো দোকানে এই বই রাখা যাবে না, নতুন কর� ছাপা হল� নেওয়া হব� কঠোর ব্যবস্থা� কারো বাড়িত� ‘অ� কোয়ায়ে� অন দ্� ওয়েস্টার্� ফ্রন্ট� কিংব� এর সিক্যুয়েল ‘দ্য রো� ব্যাক� এর কোনো কপ� থাকল� তা দ্রু� ‘গেস্টাপো’র কাছে জম� দিতে হবে। অন্যথায় নেওয়া হব� কঠোর ব্যবস্থা� কিন্তু এভাব� কি শিল্পী� কণ্ঠরো� কর� যায়? ‘অ� কোয়ায়ে� অন দ্� ওয়েস্টার্� ফ্রন্ট� বইটা� প্রভাব এত� বেশি, তা� ছায়� এত� দীর্� যে বইটা� জনপ্রিয়তা� প্রকোপ থেকে রক্ষ� পা� নি খো� লেখক� পরবর্তীতে অজস্� বই লিখেছে� এরিক� দ্� রো� ব্যা�,থ্রি কমরেডস,দ্� ব্ল্যা� ওবিলিস্ক, দ্� নাইট ইন লিসব�,ফ্লোটসাম,আর্চ অব ট্রায়াম্ফ...কিন্তু বটবৃক্� অল কোয়ায়েটে� শেকড� ছড়িয়েছিল� বহ� বহ� দূ� পর্যন্ত। ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ� এরিকের সেকেন্� মোস্� সেলিব্রেটে� বই হবার পর� এদেশ� অনূদিত হয়েছে এতোদিন পর এসে।
‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ� রেমার্কে� অন্য উপন্যা� থেকে আলাদ� হবার কারণ এর বিষয়বস্তু, সেটআপ। রেমার্কে� বেশিরভাগ লেখা� মোটাদাগে যুদ্ধক� ঘিরে আবর্তি� হয়। একটা যুদ্ধে� প্রারম্ভ কিংব� যুদ্� বিধ্বস্ত মানুষে� জীবনকে পুঁজ� কর� লেখা উপন্যাসগুল� শেষমেশ যুদ্ধে� প্রত� তীব্� ঘৃণা� সঞ্চার কর� পাঠকের মধ্যে। সেখানে ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ� উপন্যাসে� মূ� বিষয়বস্তু নিঃসঙ্গত�, বিরহ,প্রে�, ভাগ্যে� মত� চিরাচরিত বিষয়। আঙ্গিকগত বৈচিত্র্� খুঁজতে গেলে� ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ�,‘দ্য নাইট ইন লিসবন� আর ‘ফ্লোটসা�(কোথায় স্বর্গ?)� বই তিনটার মাঝে কম� ট্রো� লক্ষ্য কর� যায়� প্রতিট� উপন্যাসে� স্থা� কর� নিয়েছ� নি� ঠিকানা থেকে বিতাড়িত উদ্বাস্ত� প্রোটাগনিস্ট� কিন্তু তাদে� প্রত্যেকের ক্রাইসিস আলাদা। কে� হয়ত� পুরোনো ঠিকানায় ফিরে যেতে চায়,কে� বা চায় প্রতিশোধ,আবার কারো প্রতিনিয়ত পালিয়� বেড়ানোই নিয়তি� ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ’উপন্যাস� রেমার্� শুনিয়েছেন এক� সাথে ভালোবাসা� গল্প,বিরহের গল্প, নির্বাসি� চাঁদের তল� ত্রিশে� দশকে� প্যারিসে� গল্প� শিল্পে-সাহিত্যে অভিজাত আল� ঝলমল� নগরী� কথ� বলার প্রয়োজন বো� করেন নি� বেছে নিয়েছেন আল�-আঁধা� গল�,সস্ত� হোটে�,বেশ্যালয� আর হাসপাতালকে।কর্�,ক্রো�,লো�,মো�,মদ,মাৎসর্যে� ছয� তারে বাঁধ� মানুষক� ধরতে চেয়েছেন এই সব স্থানে� গল্পের নায়� রাভি� নামে� এক নির্বাসি� ডাক্তার। পোস্টমডার্� উপন্যাসে যেমন একাকী নেকড়ে� মত� নিঃসঙ্� মানুষদের দেখা যায়,রাভি� ঠি� সেইরকম� প্যারিসে উদ্বাস্ত� চিকিৎসকদের প্র্যাকটিসের অনুমতি নেই। অবৈধভাবে সার্জারি কর� রাভি� পে� চালায়� মায়েদের পে� থেকে খালা� কর� অনাকাঙ্ক্ষিত সন্তানগুলোকে� নিস্তরঙ্� জীবন,গ্লাসে� পর গ্লা� মদ আর মোটা আলজেরিয়ান চুরুটে� ধোঁয়ায় নিথর নিঃসঙ্� জীবন কেটে যায় তার। সে যে ইন্টারন্যাশনাল হোটেলে থাকে,তা আক্ষরি� অর্থেই ‘ইন্টারন্যাশনাল’। ইউরোপে� প্রতিট� কোণা থেকে নির্বাসি� মানুষজনে� আস্তান� এই হোটেল। তাদে� সবার গল্প ভিন্�,আদর্� ভিন্ন। এক� সাথে ফ্যাসিস্� আর তাদে� ডেমোক্রেটি� কাউন্টারপার্টে� ছব� ঝোলে এই হোটেলে� দেয়ালে। এক আশ্চর্� কালচারাল মেল্টি� পট...
এর� মাঝে রাভিকে� ডাক্তারি জীবনের দাঁড়ি-কমার মাঝে বিস্ময়সূচ� চিহ্� আর দীর্� পুনরাবৃত্তির মত� হাজি� হয� জোওন মাদু,এক আত্মহত্যাপ্রবণ তরুণী� ঠি� এখানেই যুদ্ধবিরোধিত� থেকে ন্যারেটিভে� টোনা� শিফট ঘটেছে। প্রতিকূলতা� মাঝে সবকিছু গুছিয়� নিয়� টিকে থাকা� প্রবণতায� ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ� হয়ে উঠতে চেয়েছ� আশার আশাবরী�
‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ’এ� বসায� পড়ে ফেলবার মত� কোনো গতিময় উপন্যা� না� মন্থ� গতির এই উপন্যাসে প্রায় অর্ধেক পর্যন্� এসেও উল্লেখযোগ্� কোনোকিছু� চোখে পড়ে না� কিন্তু একদম ঘটনাহীনও নয়। ছো� ছো� ঘটনা� মধ্য দিয়� প্রোটাগনিস্ট ডাক্তা� রাভিকে� প্রাত্যহিক জীবন,নস্টালজিয়ায� ডু� মারত� মারত� যে� আল� ফে��� ফেলে দেখা যায় আর� অনেক মানুষে� জীবনকেও। এক তেরো বছ� বয়সী দরিদ্র কিশোরক� কীভাবে ট্রাকে পা কাটা পড়া� পর ইন্সুরেন্সকে ফাঁক� দিয়� টাকা� বন্দোবস্� কর� দেয় রাভি� অথবা নিজে� স্ত্রী হত্যার প্রতিশোধ নিতে গিয়েও হা� ছেড়� দেয় এম� বে� কিছু সিরি� অব ইভেন্টসে� মধ্য দিয়� আমরা কোমল�-কঠোর� মেশানো এক চরিত্রকে খুঁজ� পাই। রাভি� কারো দয়ায় বাঁচ� না,কারো সাহায্যও নেয় না� সবকিছু� সাথে মানিয়� নেয়ার মত� এক নির্লিপ্তভাব তা� মাঝে সদ� বিরাজমান� সে হো� যে কোনো পরিস্থিত� কিংব� মানুষ। বৃষ্টি ভেজা প্যারিসে� রাস্তায় মধ্যরাতে হাঁটতে হাঁটতে জোওন মাদু-রাভিকে� মধ্যকা� কথোপকথ� বে� উপভোগ্য। বিশে� কর� যারা কথোপকথ� নির্ভর বই পড়ত� পছন্� করেন বা সিনেমা দেখত� পছন্� করেন,তাদে� ভালো লাগবে। তব� আর্চ অব ট্রায়াম্ফের ঘটনাপ্রবাহ খু� লিনিয়ার, আবেগের প্রাবল্য� এড়ানো যায় না� উপন্যাসে� ডিটেইলিং এত� সূক্ষ্� আর গ্রাফি� যে সেসময়ের প্যারিসক� রীতিমত� ভিজ্যুয়ালাই� কর� যায়� প্রথ� ১০� পৃষ্ঠা� এম� কোথা� নে� যেখানে কালভাদ�, কনিয়্যা� বা ভদকা� কথ� আস� নি� সারাক্ষণ� এই কাপলকে মদ্যপা� করতে দেখা যায়� সেটা হো� ট্যাক্সি� মাঝে,বেডরুম� কিংব� কোনো বারে� ড্রিংক করাক� নিরুৎসাহিত করার জন্য বলছি না� এম� না যে এই ড্রিংকিং টেন্ডেন্সি শে� পর্যন্� বড়সড় কোনো ঘটনা� ক্যাটালিস্ট। তাহল� বারবার এর পুনরাবৃত্তির কারণ কী? পাঠককে� একটা টিপস� ফি� দেয়�? হয়তোব�...
সেবা প্রকাশনী� হেভিওয়ে� অনুবাদ� ইসমাইল আরমানে� অনুবাদ নিয়� অভিযোগ করার দুঃসাহ� নেই। আন্ডাররেটে� জেমগুলোক� তুলে আনার একটা প্রবণত� বরাবরই খেয়াল করেছ� কাজগুলোর মধ্যে। রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডে� পার্� মেইডেন, ভিক্তর হুগো� নাইন্ট� থ্রি, আর্থার কোনা� ডয়েলে� দ্� ম্যারাকা� ডি� বা জু� ভার্নে� ডি� স্যান্ডে� মত� বইগুলো� অনুবাদ পেয়েছ� উনার কা� থেকে� এই ধারাবাহিকত� বজায� থাকু�...
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পুড়িয়ে� ক্ষান্� হয়ন� নাৎসির�, নির্দে� দেওয়া হল� কোনো দোকানে এই বই রাখা যাবে না, নতুন কর� ছাপা হল� নেওয়া হব� কঠোর ব্যবস্থা� কারো বাড়িত� ‘অ� কোয়ায়ে� অন দ্� ওয়েস্টার্� ফ্রন্ট� কিংব� এর সিক্যুয়েল ‘দ্য রো� ব্যাক� এর কোনো কপ� থাকল� তা দ্রু� ‘গেস্টাপো’র কাছে জম� দিতে হবে। অন্যথায় নেওয়া হব� কঠোর ব্যবস্থা� কিন্তু এভাব� কি শিল্পী� কণ্ঠরো� কর� যায়? ‘অ� কোয়ায়ে� অন দ্� ওয়েস্টার্� ফ্রন্ট� বইটা� প্রভাব এত� বেশি, তা� ছায়� এত� দীর্� যে বইটা� জনপ্রিয়তা� প্রকোপ থেকে রক্ষ� পা� নি খো� লেখক� পরবর্তীতে অজস্� বই লিখেছে� এরিক� দ্� রো� ব্যা�,থ্রি কমরেডস,দ্� ব্ল্যা� ওবিলিস্ক, দ্� নাইট ইন লিসব�,ফ্লোটসাম,আর্চ অব ট্রায়াম্ফ...কিন্তু বটবৃক্� অল কোয়ায়েটে� শেকড� ছড়িয়েছিল� বহ� বহ� দূ� পর্যন্ত। ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ� এরিকের সেকেন্� মোস্� সেলিব্রেটে� বই হবার পর� এদেশ� অনূদিত হয়েছে এতোদিন পর এসে।
‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ� রেমার্কে� অন্য উপন্যা� থেকে আলাদ� হবার কারণ এর বিষয়বস্তু, সেটআপ। রেমার্কে� বেশিরভাগ লেখা� মোটাদাগে যুদ্ধক� ঘিরে আবর্তি� হয়। একটা যুদ্ধে� প্রারম্ভ কিংব� যুদ্� বিধ্বস্ত মানুষে� জীবনকে পুঁজ� কর� লেখা উপন্যাসগুল� শেষমেশ যুদ্ধে� প্রত� তীব্� ঘৃণা� সঞ্চার কর� পাঠকের মধ্যে। সেখানে ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ� উপন্যাসে� মূ� বিষয়বস্তু নিঃসঙ্গত�, বিরহ,প্রে�, ভাগ্যে� মত� চিরাচরিত বিষয়। আঙ্গিকগত বৈচিত্র্� খুঁজতে গেলে� ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ�,‘দ্য নাইট ইন লিসবন� আর ‘ফ্লোটসা�(কোথায় স্বর্গ?)� বই তিনটার মাঝে কম� ট্রো� লক্ষ্য কর� যায়� প্রতিট� উপন্যাসে� স্থা� কর� নিয়েছ� নি� ঠিকানা থেকে বিতাড়িত উদ্বাস্ত� প্রোটাগনিস্ট� কিন্তু তাদে� প্রত্যেকের ক্রাইসিস আলাদা। কে� হয়ত� পুরোনো ঠিকানায় ফিরে যেতে চায়,কে� বা চায় প্রতিশোধ,আবার কারো প্রতিনিয়ত পালিয়� বেড়ানোই নিয়তি� ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ’উপন্যাস� রেমার্� শুনিয়েছেন এক� সাথে ভালোবাসা� গল্প,বিরহের গল্প, নির্বাসি� চাঁদের তল� ত্রিশে� দশকে� প্যারিসে� গল্প� শিল্পে-সাহিত্যে অভিজাত আল� ঝলমল� নগরী� কথ� বলার প্রয়োজন বো� করেন নি� বেছে নিয়েছেন আল�-আঁধা� গল�,সস্ত� হোটে�,বেশ্যালয� আর হাসপাতালকে।কর্�,ক্রো�,লো�,মো�,মদ,মাৎসর্যে� ছয� তারে বাঁধ� মানুষক� ধরতে চেয়েছেন এই সব স্থানে� গল্পের নায়� রাভি� নামে� এক নির্বাসি� ডাক্তার। পোস্টমডার্� উপন্যাসে যেমন একাকী নেকড়ে� মত� নিঃসঙ্� মানুষদের দেখা যায়,রাভি� ঠি� সেইরকম� প্যারিসে উদ্বাস্ত� চিকিৎসকদের প্র্যাকটিসের অনুমতি নেই। অবৈধভাবে সার্জারি কর� রাভি� পে� চালায়� মায়েদের পে� থেকে খালা� কর� অনাকাঙ্ক্ষিত সন্তানগুলোকে� নিস্তরঙ্� জীবন,গ্লাসে� পর গ্লা� মদ আর মোটা আলজেরিয়ান চুরুটে� ধোঁয়ায় নিথর নিঃসঙ্� জীবন কেটে যায় তার। সে যে ইন্টারন্যাশনাল হোটেলে থাকে,তা আক্ষরি� অর্থেই ‘ইন্টারন্যাশনাল’। ইউরোপে� প্রতিট� কোণা থেকে নির্বাসি� মানুষজনে� আস্তান� এই হোটেল। তাদে� সবার গল্প ভিন্�,আদর্� ভিন্ন। এক� সাথে ফ্যাসিস্� আর তাদে� ডেমোক্রেটি� কাউন্টারপার্টে� ছব� ঝোলে এই হোটেলে� দেয়ালে। এক আশ্চর্� কালচারাল মেল্টি� পট...
এর� মাঝে রাভিকে� ডাক্তারি জীবনের দাঁড়ি-কমার মাঝে বিস্ময়সূচ� চিহ্� আর দীর্� পুনরাবৃত্তির মত� হাজি� হয� জোওন মাদু,এক আত্মহত্যাপ্রবণ তরুণী� ঠি� এখানেই যুদ্ধবিরোধিত� থেকে ন্যারেটিভে� টোনা� শিফট ঘটেছে। প্রতিকূলতা� মাঝে সবকিছু গুছিয়� নিয়� টিকে থাকা� প্রবণতায� ‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ� হয়ে উঠতে চেয়েছ� আশার আশাবরী�
‘আর্� অব ট্রায়াম্ফ’এ� বসায� পড়ে ফেলবার মত� কোনো গতিময় উপন্যা� না� মন্থ� গতির এই উপন্যাসে প্রায় অর্ধেক পর্যন্� এসেও উল্লেখযোগ্� কোনোকিছু� চোখে পড়ে না� কিন্তু একদম ঘটনাহীনও নয়। ছো� ছো� ঘটনা� মধ্য দিয়� প্রোটাগনিস্ট ডাক্তা� রাভিকে� প্রাত্যহিক জীবন,নস্টালজিয়ায� ডু� মারত� মারত� যে� আল� ফে��� ফেলে দেখা যায় আর� অনেক মানুষে� জীবনকেও। এক তেরো বছ� বয়সী দরিদ্র কিশোরক� কীভাবে ট্রাকে পা কাটা পড়া� পর ইন্সুরেন্সকে ফাঁক� দিয়� টাকা� বন্দোবস্� কর� দেয় রাভি� অথবা নিজে� স্ত্রী হত্যার প্রতিশোধ নিতে গিয়েও হা� ছেড়� দেয় এম� বে� কিছু সিরি� অব ইভেন্টসে� মধ্য দিয়� আমরা কোমল�-কঠোর� মেশানো এক চরিত্রকে খুঁজ� পাই। রাভি� কারো দয়ায় বাঁচ� না,কারো সাহায্যও নেয় না� সবকিছু� সাথে মানিয়� নেয়ার মত� এক নির্লিপ্তভাব তা� মাঝে সদ� বিরাজমান� সে হো� যে কোনো পরিস্থিত� কিংব� মানুষ। বৃষ্টি ভেজা প্যারিসে� রাস্তায় মধ্যরাতে হাঁটতে হাঁটতে জোওন মাদু-রাভিকে� মধ্যকা� কথোপকথ� বে� উপভোগ্য। বিশে� কর� যারা কথোপকথ� নির্ভর বই পড়ত� পছন্� করেন বা সিনেমা দেখত� পছন্� করেন,তাদে� ভালো লাগবে। তব� আর্চ অব ট্রায়াম্ফের ঘটনাপ্রবাহ খু� লিনিয়ার, আবেগের প্রাবল্য� এড়ানো যায় না� উপন্যাসে� ডিটেইলিং এত� সূক্ষ্� আর গ্রাফি� যে সেসময়ের প্যারিসক� রীতিমত� ভিজ্যুয়ালাই� কর� যায়� প্রথ� ১০� পৃষ্ঠা� এম� কোথা� নে� যেখানে কালভাদ�, কনিয়্যা� বা ভদকা� কথ� আস� নি� সারাক্ষণ� এই কাপলকে মদ্যপা� করতে দেখা যায়� সেটা হো� ট্যাক্সি� মাঝে,বেডরুম� কিংব� কোনো বারে� ড্রিংক করাক� নিরুৎসাহিত করার জন্য বলছি না� এম� না যে এই ড্রিংকিং টেন্ডেন্সি শে� পর্যন্� বড়সড় কোনো ঘটনা� ক্যাটালিস্ট। তাহল� বারবার এর পুনরাবৃত্তির কারণ কী? পাঠককে� একটা টিপস� ফি� দেয়�? হয়তোব�...
সেবা প্রকাশনী� হেভিওয়ে� অনুবাদ� ইসমাইল আরমানে� অনুবাদ নিয়� অভিযোগ করার দুঃসাহ� নেই। আন্ডাররেটে� জেমগুলোক� তুলে আনার একটা প্রবণত� বরাবরই খেয়াল করেছ� কাজগুলোর মধ্যে। রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডে� পার্� মেইডেন, ভিক্তর হুগো� নাইন্ট� থ্রি, আর্থার কোনা� ডয়েলে� দ্� ম্যারাকা� ডি� বা জু� ভার্নে� ডি� স্যান্ডে� মত� বইগুলো� অনুবাদ পেয়েছ� উনার কা� থেকে� এই ধারাবাহিকত� বজায� থাকু�...
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February 14, 2022
Истината е, че си поревах. 😐
На моменти ми ставаше лошо от Жоан и Равик. Лошо отвътре. Не харесвам любовните нишки, а тяхната не беше красива като другите, за които пише Ремарк.
Оставям цитати, които отговарят на 97% за моите схващания в тоя живот.
,,Има създания, които живеят вечно - помисли Равик, - животът не обича тия дървени души, затова ги забравя и ги оставя да си живеят."
- Да живееш, значи да вземаш от другите. Ние постоянно се ядем помежду си, затова не трябва да се отказваме сами от редките искрици доброта. Те ни дават сили в този тежък живот.
- Безсмислено е да се съжалява за нещо на тоя свят. Нищо на този свят не може да се върне и да се поправи. Иначе всички щяхме да бъдем светци.
,,Тогава беше съвсем отчаяна - помисли Равик, - а сега вече не е." Придобила бе внезапно топлота и самоуверено безразличие.
,,Странно колко мъртви изглеждат вещите, до които се е докосвало човешко тяло, когато то вече не ги топли..."
,,Моралът е измислица за слабите и погребална песен за живите."
,,Купил си бе едно време няколко тома на ,,История на света" и сега ги извади. Не беше много весело четиво. Единственото нещо, което му даваше, бе странното подтискащо съзнание, че днешните събития не са нищо ново. Всичко това е ставало десетки пъти досега. Лъжите, предателствата, убийствата, вартоломеевите нощи, покварата, вдъхната от жаждата за власт, непрекъснатият низ от войни - историята на човечеството бе написана с кръв и сълзи, между хилядите окървавени статуи на миналото само няколко имаха сребристото сияние на добродетелта! Демагози, измамници, отце- и братоубийци, опиянени от мрака, егоисти, фанатизирани пророци, проповядващи любов с меч в ръка. Всичко се повтаряше..."
На моменти ми ставаше лошо от Жоан и Равик. Лошо отвътре. Не харесвам любовните нишки, а тяхната не беше красива като другите, за които пише Ремарк.
Оставям цитати, които отговарят на 97% за моите схващания в тоя живот.
,,Има създания, които живеят вечно - помисли Равик, - животът не обича тия дървени души, затова ги забравя и ги оставя да си живеят."
- Да живееш, значи да вземаш от другите. Ние постоянно се ядем помежду си, затова не трябва да се отказваме сами от редките искрици доброта. Те ни дават сили в този тежък живот.
- Безсмислено е да се съжалява за нещо на тоя свят. Нищо на този свят не може да се върне и да се поправи. Иначе всички щяхме да бъдем светци.
,,Тогава беше съвсем отчаяна - помисли Равик, - а сега вече не е." Придобила бе внезапно топлота и самоуверено безразличие.
,,Странно колко мъртви изглеждат вещите, до които се е докосвало човешко тяло, когато то вече не ги топли..."
,,Моралът е измислица за слабите и погребална песен за живите."
,,Купил си бе едно време няколко тома на ,,История на света" и сега ги извади. Не беше много весело четиво. Единственото нещо, което му даваше, бе странното подтискащо съзнание, че днешните събития не са нищо ново. Всичко това е ставало десетки пъти досега. Лъжите, предателствата, убийствата, вартоломеевите нощи, покварата, вдъхната от жаждата за власт, непрекъснатият низ от войни - историята на човечеството бе написана с кръв и сълзи, между хилядите окървавени статуи на миналото само няколко имаха сребристото сияние на добродетелта! Демагози, измамници, отце- и братоубийци, опиянени от мрака, егоисти, фанатизирани пророци, проповядващи любов с меч в ръка. Всичко се повтаряше..."
February 20, 2019
از متن کتاب:
اوژنی چینهای پیشبند� را صاف کرد و گفت: شما نمیتوانی� به من توهین کنید. شما به هیچ چیز اعتقاد ندارید. شکر خدا که من آدم باایمانی هستم!
راویک که روی بیمار خم شده بود قد راست کرد و گفت: این گونه ایمانها آدم را به آسانی به تعصب میکشاند� به همین جهت است که مذهبها باعث این همه خونریز� شدهان�.
لبخندی زد و ادامه داد:
-چشمپوش� و گذشت فرزند تردید است، اوژنی�. به همین جهت است که شما، با همه ایمانی که دارید، این همه نسبت به من ستیزهج� هستید، و من، -به قول شما آدم بیایما� دوزخی،- نسبت به شما هیچ کینها� ندارم.
به نظر من کتاب تا فصل چهارده پانزدهش کند پیش میرفت ولی از اون به بعد جالب تر شد، جوری که نشسته کتاب میخوندم:)) نویسنده های آلمانی بعد از روسه� جایگاه دوم موردعلاقهها� رو دارن(شاید هم موردعلاقه نباشن و صرفاً یه تجربه جدید باشن که آدم از حس کردنش لذت میبره؛ یه چیزی مثل اولین باری که آدامس جرقها� میخوری). خیلی وقت ها کتاب رو میبستم و حس میکردم نویسنده من رو توی قالب ژان یا راویک به تصویر کشیده... حس عجیبیه که توی داستان خودت رو چندبار پیدا کنی.
اوژنی چینهای پیشبند� را صاف کرد و گفت: شما نمیتوانی� به من توهین کنید. شما به هیچ چیز اعتقاد ندارید. شکر خدا که من آدم باایمانی هستم!
راویک که روی بیمار خم شده بود قد راست کرد و گفت: این گونه ایمانها آدم را به آسانی به تعصب میکشاند� به همین جهت است که مذهبها باعث این همه خونریز� شدهان�.
لبخندی زد و ادامه داد:
-چشمپوش� و گذشت فرزند تردید است، اوژنی�. به همین جهت است که شما، با همه ایمانی که دارید، این همه نسبت به من ستیزهج� هستید، و من، -به قول شما آدم بیایما� دوزخی،- نسبت به شما هیچ کینها� ندارم.
به نظر من کتاب تا فصل چهارده پانزدهش کند پیش میرفت ولی از اون به بعد جالب تر شد، جوری که نشسته کتاب میخوندم:)) نویسنده های آلمانی بعد از روسه� جایگاه دوم موردعلاقهها� رو دارن(شاید هم موردعلاقه نباشن و صرفاً یه تجربه جدید باشن که آدم از حس کردنش لذت میبره؛ یه چیزی مثل اولین باری که آدامس جرقها� میخوری). خیلی وقت ها کتاب رو میبستم و حس میکردم نویسنده من رو توی قالب ژان یا راویک به تصویر کشیده... حس عجیبیه که توی داستان خودت رو چندبار پیدا کنی.
December 8, 2009
I put this book aside to read A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains but I was already getting tired of it and I'm not in the mood to finish it right now. The story is about a German refugee living in Paris during WWII but before the Occupation. He had been a surgeon in Germany but as he is living illegally without papers, he has to take whatever work a few French doctors give him work that they don't want to do such as trying to save a woman's life after a botched abortion. I found this all very interesting, how he had to live a solitary life, on the fringe and under the radar. Then he falls in love and its just blah blah blah about what love really is and can we ever really be happy and who is going to leave the other one firt. I know Remarque is well regarded (All Quiet On The Western Front) and I feel a bit like "who am I to criticize" but these two characters just went round and round in circles and I lost interest.
May 14, 2023
The most beautiful book about empathy, human kindness, love and friendship, that sort of story which makes you be a slightly better person, that's for sure.
The setting is Paris, just before the start of WWII. The main character, quite an adorable person, is Ravic, a German surgeon, who left his country and has to work illegally. So, no past, no country, no future for this gentleman, only a fugitive present. And a touching love story...
The novel was published for the first time in 1945, at the end of WWII and was turned into a movie two times. Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer were protagonists in 1948 and Anthony Hopkins and Lesley-Anne Down in 1984. None of them is a bad actor, so if you're lazy enough to read the book, maybe the movie will change your mind...
Later edit: for those who are still skeptical, just look at the rating. It's no more or less than 4.42.
The setting is Paris, just before the start of WWII. The main character, quite an adorable person, is Ravic, a German surgeon, who left his country and has to work illegally. So, no past, no country, no future for this gentleman, only a fugitive present. And a touching love story...
The novel was published for the first time in 1945, at the end of WWII and was turned into a movie two times. Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer were protagonists in 1948 and Anthony Hopkins and Lesley-Anne Down in 1984. None of them is a bad actor, so if you're lazy enough to read the book, maybe the movie will change your mind...
Later edit: for those who are still skeptical, just look at the rating. It's no more or less than 4.42.
April 21, 2023
if you like this review, i now have website:
310514: this is a later addition: i think of books read this year, ones that might become rereads- become 'comfort reading'- and this is a prime candidate. why? i do not know, perhaps in clarity, in artlessness, i can concentrate on the characters. i tried one other book by remarque, very disappointed, and i have read - but this was spoiled by having seen the old film. now i know the plot, but this is never important, this is bittersweet, romantic- yes it must be the romantic aspect that appeals. i cannot claim it is great art, only that it is the people i want to read about...
first review: now it has been a few days, a few books, since read and rated so the question is: why give this a five? why put it on the favourites shelf? thinking of it in comparison to llosa's , which is perhaps more literary in shape, in writing, but this is the one better recalled and more likely to be read again. this one has somewhat more average characters, ordinary sort of plot- and i think this is why. this book, set in 1939 France, written in 1945, does not fail to recall the movie Casablanca. indeed, i can see Bogart as the protagonist, and in Paris, where everyone is waiting in disbelief that another war will come...
and character revealed simply, directly, in action, not introspection or close emotional reading, only gradually. i did not think to like this book, as it is long, it is not uniquely told or structured, not surprising characters or plot. i did not think i could be so attached to the man and woman, the world, the politics there but not too there. the young woman who knows she is not a good actor, but pretty enough to be a mistress, the good german doctor living and operating illegally, the petty conniving french doctor who depends on his skill to fix mistakes, the friendlier doctor who pays him better, who becomes something like a friend. the quiet satire of the hotel, the rotating pictures, the rotating refugees, the russian who uniquely does not claim aristocratic heritage...
then, i like the occasional dash of mordant humor, i like the mundane, realistic, rather mature portrayal of romance. these are real people, good people, caught in a very bad time. would this work if set anywhere and -when else? made me also think of the stripped prose of Hemingway, how this is not his style but quieter, how this story is told without stylistic pyrotechnics, this story told directly, without excess of emotion or art... perhaps i would not have liked it so much if it was striving for effect. it is almost like reading two books, as the first half is heavy in dialog, thus easy to read, the second half more description, more thought... but in the end, this works. so maybe it is a bestseller of its time, maybe it is middlebrow, but the looming history is not overplayed, the story is ultimately down to a romance anyone can imagine, anyone could live, and an exactly right ending...
and why did i even read this book, as it is not from a rec, not immediately interesting me, not much liking longish books...well actually, because the last book on philosopher merleau-ponty quoted it at a significant point, quoted it at length, so i decided to read its context... and while looking for that passage, i got sucked into this book. remains a five...
310514: this is a later addition: i think of books read this year, ones that might become rereads- become 'comfort reading'- and this is a prime candidate. why? i do not know, perhaps in clarity, in artlessness, i can concentrate on the characters. i tried one other book by remarque, very disappointed, and i have read - but this was spoiled by having seen the old film. now i know the plot, but this is never important, this is bittersweet, romantic- yes it must be the romantic aspect that appeals. i cannot claim it is great art, only that it is the people i want to read about...
first review: now it has been a few days, a few books, since read and rated so the question is: why give this a five? why put it on the favourites shelf? thinking of it in comparison to llosa's , which is perhaps more literary in shape, in writing, but this is the one better recalled and more likely to be read again. this one has somewhat more average characters, ordinary sort of plot- and i think this is why. this book, set in 1939 France, written in 1945, does not fail to recall the movie Casablanca. indeed, i can see Bogart as the protagonist, and in Paris, where everyone is waiting in disbelief that another war will come...
and character revealed simply, directly, in action, not introspection or close emotional reading, only gradually. i did not think to like this book, as it is long, it is not uniquely told or structured, not surprising characters or plot. i did not think i could be so attached to the man and woman, the world, the politics there but not too there. the young woman who knows she is not a good actor, but pretty enough to be a mistress, the good german doctor living and operating illegally, the petty conniving french doctor who depends on his skill to fix mistakes, the friendlier doctor who pays him better, who becomes something like a friend. the quiet satire of the hotel, the rotating pictures, the rotating refugees, the russian who uniquely does not claim aristocratic heritage...
then, i like the occasional dash of mordant humor, i like the mundane, realistic, rather mature portrayal of romance. these are real people, good people, caught in a very bad time. would this work if set anywhere and -when else? made me also think of the stripped prose of Hemingway, how this is not his style but quieter, how this story is told without stylistic pyrotechnics, this story told directly, without excess of emotion or art... perhaps i would not have liked it so much if it was striving for effect. it is almost like reading two books, as the first half is heavy in dialog, thus easy to read, the second half more description, more thought... but in the end, this works. so maybe it is a bestseller of its time, maybe it is middlebrow, but the looming history is not overplayed, the story is ultimately down to a romance anyone can imagine, anyone could live, and an exactly right ending...
and why did i even read this book, as it is not from a rec, not immediately interesting me, not much liking longish books...well actually, because the last book on philosopher merleau-ponty quoted it at a significant point, quoted it at length, so i decided to read its context... and while looking for that passage, i got sucked into this book. remains a five...
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