Customer Reviews

Flotsam: A Novel

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A detail and powerful portrait of all people who lived under the oppressive regime of Nazi Germany. The reader of the book will have a deep appreciation for the feelings of hopelessness of the oppressed under an evil and powerful government.

Flotsam is the third Remarque book I have read and unfortunately it lacks the power and emotion of 'All Quiet On The Western Front' and 'A Time To Love And A Time To Die' which I consider two of the best novels I've read. The book is set in Europe preceding World War 2. It concerns Kern, a jew and Stiener, a political disidant, both made stateless refugees by nazi Germany. Both are tossed from country to country like hot potatoes. The rest of Europe, disgustingly unconcerned for them and thousands of others in their plite. While an interesting subject and quite a good read, I never felt I was close to the characters and it tended to meander a little. Maybe I expected too much.

I'm more used to the images and tales of concentration camp victims and exterminations. This story of lost souls forced to drift around the European continent (mostly on foot) in pre-World War II -- people denied passports or any other identification papers -- was a revelation to me.

Anyone interested in what the period between the two World Wars meant to the common German citizen should seriously consider reading this fine novel. I have not found anyone better to describe man's inhumanity to man than Erich Maria Remarque.

Who is to decide who is human detritus? Flotsam, indeed!