Spark of Life

Erich Maria Remarque (1898 - 1970) was projected to popularity by his novel "All Quiet in the Western Front" (1929). He was a militant pacifist with no strong political views. Nevertheless the Nazis burned his books and he was forced into exile. He was stripped from German nationality in 1938 and never was returned to him. This was a deep wound in his soul that never healed. "Spark of Life" (1952) is not one of his most famous books, but is a deep heartbreaking tale of the life in a concentration camp. 509 is an old prisoner that miraculously survives year after year of daily horror. He feels war is ending and redouble his efforts to stay alive. His deeds and those of his campmates, Lebenthal and Ashver and Neubauer are described vividly by Remarque. This is a dark and sorrowful literary piece; however is a monument to the "spark of life" that every human being treasures in his inner soul. Is a monolith to the "spark" of freedom that authoritarian regimes, of any sign, try always to quench and never succeed to achieve. A recommended read for those interested in historical subject and more specifically in WWII and concentration camps. Reviewed by Max Yofre.

Erich Maria Remarque (1898 - 1970) was catapulted into popularity by his novel "All Quiet in the Western Front" (1929). He was a militant pacifist with no strong political views. Nevertheless the Nazis burned his books and he was forced into exile. He was stripped from German nationality in 1938 and never was returned to him. This was a deep wound in his soul that never healed. "Spark of Life" (1952) is not one of his most famous books, but is a deep heartbreaking tale of the life in a concentration camp. 509 is an old prisoner that miraculously survives year after year of daily horror. He feels war is ending and redouble his efforts to stay alive. His deeds and those of his campmates, Lebenthal and Ashver and Neubauer are described vividly by Remarque. This is a dark and sorrowful literary piece; however is a monument to the "spark of life" that every human being treasures in his inner soul. Is a monolith to the "spark" of freedom that authoritarian regimes, of any sign, try always to quench and never succeed to achieve. A recommended read for those interested in historical subject and more specifically in WWII and concentration camps. Reviewed by Max Yofre.

In 'Spark of Life' Remarque proves once again that he is one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. A combination of literary skill, gripping story, and truly real characters put this novel on par with his most famous work, 'All Quiet on the Western Front.' 'Spark' deals with the final months of World War Two in a German concentration camp. 509, one of the longest held prisoners in the camp, is convinced that despite what the SS tell them the war will soon be over and the camp liberated. 509's fellow inmates, old and young, Jews and politicals, all draw strength from 509 and his will to not just survive, but to somehow stay human in a world where savagery is king. While the prisoners themselves hold to this hope tightly, the SS have their own worries. The camp commamdant's holdings throughout the small town are going up in flames as the British and Americans continually bomb the area and the guards are left with a choice: Run from the camp and risk treason against the Fuhrer, or exterminate all the surviving prisoners in one final orgy of blood. Once again Remarque has created a world so real, so certain, it both moves and educates the reader. All the horror, death, fear, and ultimatly the triumph of the human spirit that existed in these dark times are brought to life by a master story-teller.

This book is great. Erich Maria Remarque almost (and I repeat, "almost") outdoes All Quiet on the Western Front. 509, Lebenthal, Bucher, Weber, Neubauer, Karel, Ahasver, and "the sheep dog" are very engrossing characters, and I felt as though they were actually real people as I read it. The plot is great, and I could easily picture the setting in my mind. I was definately satisfied at the results between the conflict with 509 and Weber. The translation is a little rough at times, and the terms "revolver" and "tommy gun" were used throughout the story in a meagerly generic way. Overall, great book!

Powerful. Spring 1945, Germany refuses to accept the inevitable defeat. This is the story of a concentration camp during the last months of war. One of the important themes of the novel is that as the allies converged on the concentraion camps the situation for the prisoners became more desperate. A high percentage of deaths occured during these last weeks as Germans ran out of supplies, tried to erase evidence and forced prisoners to walk to different locations farther inside of Germany.