A Time to Love and a Time to Die

By: Erich Maria Remarque

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

From the quintessential author of wartime Germany, A Time to Love and a Time to Die echoes the harrowing insights of his masterpiece All Quiet on the Western Front.

After two years at the Russian front, Ernst Graeber finally receives three weeks' leave. But since leaves have been canceled before, he decides not to write his parents, fearing he would just raise their hopes.

Then, when Graeber arrives home, he finds his house bombed to ruin and his parents nowhere in sight. Nobody knows if they are dead or alive. As his leave draws to a close, Graeber reaches out to Elisabeth, a childhood friend. Like him, she is imprisoned in a world she did not create. But in a time of war, love seems a world away. And sometimes, temporary comfort can lead to something unexpected and redeeming.

©1954 Erich Maria Remarque (P)2019 Recorded Books

Very well nuanced characters

This was a great read/listen. Interesting to read about WWII from the German side. The indignation of the German people when they started experiencing the bomb raids was interesting. It was as if they had no idea of the devastation the German aggression was causing throughout Europe. After reading Eric Larson’s account of the blitz in England it really stood out.

The writing was incredibly rich and it insightful viewpoint of the many aspects and points of view of the war. The characters were well flushed out and I really liked that it gave a good variety of the people the war affected, not a good guy/bad guy characterization. This is rare in novels about war.

It’s a lot to take in.

Like many people, I find myself fascinated with war stories. Guy Sajer and Eugene Sledge have remained icons for their books; The Forgotten Soldier and With the Old Breed, but I must admit… hearing the stories of the losing side gives a morbid fascination with who/what they were fighting for, not the mindless thugs of the SS or the hell-bent followers of the Nazi Regime. There were regular people in the Wehrmacht, a concept I had a hard time understanding when I first got into history, but books like this really put it into reality. The pain described here is unreal and unreliable, it leaves the reader (or listener) a kind of fear that is very human. I couldn’t stop listening, and I’m glad I dedicated myself to buy this audible, especially by such a great narrator too.

I…hate the ending though. It was beautifully written, but nonetheless.

Remarkable

A book about an “old war” (WWII) that is as relevant today as when it was written. The performance/reading was excellent as well.

Makes one think about our current wars in a “new/old” light while being extremely engaging. Highly recommended.

A triumph of love

The narrator nailed this. An ernest read without too many silly voices. Remarque is one of my favorites and I’m glad this book was available for audible, it’s such a poignant and inspiring story

Sorrow in Germany

No one quite captures German wartime sorrow like Erich Maria Remarque. The reader can feel the desolation, and also flicker of hope in the lives Ernst and Elisabet. Ernst on furlough from the Eastern front funds his parents are gone and former home gone. This is Germany in the midst of WWII air raids. While many authors can impersonate what it was like, Remarque makes it visceral. MacLeod Andrews is the ideal narrator for this work, capturing the pain and emptiness.