Erich Remarque began to write "Three Comrades" in 1932. In 1936, the work was completed, and the novel was published by a Danish publisher. It was translated into Russian only in 1958. An attentive reading of the novel “Three Comrades” (Remarque), analysis of the work allows revealing its problems. The author develops the theme of the “lost generation” in it. The ghosts of the past continue to haunt the people who went through the war for the rest of their lives.
E. M. Remarque "Three Comrades": a summary of
I - VII chaptersThe war has long ended (World War I). In Germany, the economic crisis. And the souls and destinies of people are completely crippled. Three comrades in the school, and then on the front - Gottfried Lenz, Robert Lockman, Otto Kester - work in one workshop. They are engaged in car repair. Robert has a birthday, he turns 30 years old. He recalls his past: childhood and school, the call to war in 1916, the wound of Kester, the death of many fellow soldiers. In 1919 there was a putsch. Both friends of Robert are arrested. Next up is inflation and hunger. Upon returning home, Robert changed several professions: first he was a student, worked as a pilot, then as a racer, and, in the end, bought his own car repair shop. Friends became his partners. The profit is small, but allows you to live more or less normally. However, the past does not let go comrades. They find oblivion in vodka. Lenz and Kester got a few bottles of rum, but they will celebrate the holiday after work. Friends bought an old car and equipped it with a powerful engine. They drove on their “Karl” to the track to have fun: they passed expensive cars, and then easily overtook them. When friends stopped to order dinner, a buick rolled up to them. The passenger was Patricia Holman. She took part in a fun feast. Robert rents a furnished room in a guesthouse. After the holiday, he returns there. Among his neighbors is Count Orlov, the wife of Hasse, Georg Block, who dreams of becoming a student. They are all very different, but they help each other as they can. Robert invites Pat on a date. They go to the bar. A conversation with Pat at Robert began only after a large number of rum.
He escorts her home, and he returns to Fred, the owner of the bar, and gets drunk even more. Lenz advises sending Pat a bouquet of roses as an apology. Robert comes to his senses and thinks about life. He recalls how they returned from the war: deprived of faith in anything. Robert and Pat meet again. On a deserted street, he teaches her to drive. Then in the bar they find Lenz and together head for the leisure park. They win absolutely all prizes from two owners of attractions for throwing rings on hooks. Friends give out everything except wine and pans.
E. M. Remarque “Three Comrades”: Summary of VIII - XIV chapters
Kester recorded Carla for racing. Despite bantering rivals, friends win. Bartender Alphonse invites them to celebrate this business for free. Robert and Pat quietly leave. She stays overnight at Lockman. With work it became tight. Friends buy a taxi at auction and take passengers in turn. Pat invites Robert to his place. Once the apartment belonged to her family, but now she rents only two rooms there. Pat talks about himself. Robert manages to sell the Cadillac repaired by him to Blumenthal very profitably.
E. M. Remarque “Three Comrades”: Summary of XV - XXI chapters
A successful deal allows Robert to take a two-week vacation and go with Pat to the sea. During the rest, she became ill. At home bleeding opened. She has been in the hospital for two weeks. Jaffe, treating Dr. Pat, insists on additional treatment in the sanatorium. Robert gave her a thoroughbred puppy - a gift from taxi driver Gustav. There are very few passengers, that is, money.
Gustav dragged Robert to the races and he miraculously won. Friends are preparing "Karl" for the race. They also recaptured a car from 4 brothers, which had an accident, but needs to be repaired. Robert goes with Pat for a week to the mountains.
E. M. Remarque “Three Comrades”: summary of XXII - XXVIII chapters
Robert returns home, and there is a new misfortune. The owner of the broken car went bankrupt, and all his property went under the hammer. Including this car. And since he was not insured, friends will not receive anything from the insurance company. Their workshop was also auctioned. Pat appointed bed rest. Robert gets drunk with despair. In the city a rally. Lenz went there in the morning and still has not returned. Otto and Robert find him. At the rally, a young man speaks with fascist slogans. When friends leave, four guys suddenly appear, one of whom shoots at Lenz and kills him. Alphonse volunteers to help find the scum. He finds him and kills him. Kester and Robert go to the sanatorium. Pat let out for a walk, but she is not better. She knows this, and friends know, but everyone is silent. They don’t tell her about Lenz’s death. Kester leaves, and Robert stays with Pat. She dreams of being happy at least for the rest of the time. In March, landslides began in the mountains. Pat gets worse, she no longer gets up. She died before dawn. She left painfully and hard. Pat squeezed Robert's hand, but no longer recognized. A new day will come without her.