“The Black Obelisk” by Erich Maria Remarque – Life After Defeat

With us having the tendency to divide our worlds between us and them, we seldom take the time to look at what's happening on the other side of the hill, and that is ever-more true in times of war, where the other side of the front can be populated by nothing but scum (or so both sides tell themselves).

Luckily enough, we have plenty of thinkers who recognized the importance of empathizing with and trying to understand those on the bad side of history.

Erich Maria Remarque could perhaps be described as such a person, gifting us with some of the most touching and thought-provoking war novels ever written. The Black Obelisk is one of his more famous stories, and rather than being focused on a war itself, it's more about living in the aftermath.

As the book begins we are introduced to Ludwig, a self-proclaimed poet and veteran of World War I... a German veteran. He comes back after the turmoil is over and tries to establish his life in a small city, working for a monument company specializing in commemorative and funeral stones. He feels like there is much more to life than the daily routine he's found himself stuck in, and that's when he meets Isabelle, falling in love with her almost instantly.

Together, they try to break free from the bleakness and desolation of a world ravaged by war, but that proves itself to be far from easy; the country and its people have fallen victims to horrible economic conditions, a widespread depression, as well as feelings of humiliation and despair after having lost the First World War. On top of everything, it seems that the gears have been set in motion for history to already repeat itself.

And so the premise is set for one of Remarque's most celebrated novels, and it is a relatively vague one. The book itself doesn't really have a specific plot to speak of, in the sense that the characters aren't chasing from point A to point B, and then beeline straight for point C. Rather, there is a larger, overarching story that encompasses the lives of the people in the town. More than most other novels, this is really a character study that gets you deeply acquainted with all the actors of the story, whether they be minor or major.

Considering that, you can certainly imagine that Remarque spared no expense when it came to molding the characters in the story, making all of them feel unique, vivid and remarkable in their own ways. We spend a great deal of time learning about their lives, the hopes and dreams that drive them, the fears and anxieties that make them sleep with one eye open. Their interactions are also quite interesting to behold, for almost every word of dialogue holds some kind of importance.

Whether they be humorous or philosophical in their nature, the discussions the characters have always touch on topics revolving around human nature, what makes us act the way we do, what gives us the power to persevere in the face of overwhelming odds. Most of the time, it seems laughing in the face of it all is the answer, and that's precisely what most of them choose to do.

In addition to those, the author also dedicates much of his effort to creating a believable depiction of life in Germany during the 1920s. He successfully drives home the idea that life was extremely tough back then, exploring how its various aspects drove the German people to the edge.

He looks into how life was in pre-Hitler Germany, and how the terrible life conditions created enough unrest and fervour in the people for the Nazis to rise to power.

While it is true that The Black Obelisk is a slower-paced book, it's one that is meant to be enjoyed and slowly digested, pondering on the significance of every passage. It needs to be savoured, and certainly read more than once to experience all that it has to offer.

I believe that the quality and depth of the thoughts expressed by the author in this book are enough to draw almost any kind of reader in, but I do admit that those who can't stand slower paces will probably find it to be plodding, and maybe even boring.

And so to conclude, if stories that go along at a slower pace are something you like, or at least can handle, then The Black Obelisk is without a doubt a book you ought to read at least once in your life.

It's exposition of life during a special period in a country's history as well as its deep and often humorous meditations on human life will stay with you for a very long time, perhaps even as you think back to them in your day-to-day routine.

There isn't quite anything like this novel out there, and its wealth of knowledge is one worth exploring for anyone.

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Erich Maria Remarque (June 22, 1898 - September 25, 1970) Erich Maria Remarque was a German author whose best-known work to this day remains, without a doubt, All Quiet on the Western Front, though he certainly had other notable works including Three Comrades and Arch of Triumph. His many experiences during the war have rather visibly fueled his many thoughts and ideas he developed in his writings.