Erich Maria Remarque was a German-born novelist. His landmark novel, All Quiet on the Western Front (1928), was based on his experience in the Imperial German Army during World War I. This novel was an international bestseller and created a new literary genre of veterans writing about conflict. The book was adapted into a film several times.

Remarque's anti-war themes led to his condemnation by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels as 'unpatriotic.' Despite this, he used his literary success and fame to relocate to Switzerland as a refugee, and later to the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen.

His life was deeply influenced by the events of the 20th century, including the Weimar Republic and his exile experiences. Some of his other internationally published novels include The Road Back (1931), Three Comrades (1936), Arch of Triumph (1945), and The Black Obelisk (1956).