A summary of Erich Remarque’s "Station on the Horizon"

This is an early work by Erich Remarque, written in 1927. The novel was serialized in the magazine "Sport im Bild" from 1927 to 1928, and was published as a book in 1998. The author immerses the reader in the bustling atmosphere of auto racing, mountain roads, luxury hotels, and gambling houses. The protagonist, Kai, searches inquisitively for personal happiness and inner peace between the quiet attachment to his country home and the alluring nomadic life of a sports celebrity.

Escape from the estate and first successes on the Riviera

Kai has lived a whole year on the family estate among old friends. He spends his evenings on the terrace, reflecting while listening to romantic music. However, the awareness of the fleeting passage of time fills him with suffocating boredom. Talking in the stables with Barbara, a young girl who has grown up during his previous absences, Kai advises her never to leave this region. Captivated by the sight of the express train rushing past, he immediately packs his trunks. Together with his Great Dane, Fruite, he gets into the car and drives south.

Along the way, the hero encounters a gypsy camp. A wrinkled old woman reads his palm and treats him to spicy soup, while Kai notices the olive skin and graceful hand of a young gypsy woman. After crossing the icy Zirlberg Pass in the snow, Kai arrives in Monte Carlo. There, he visits the casino, observes superstitious gamblers, and wins a large sum at the roulette table. Refreshed, he meets acquaintances at the Sporting Club and takes a night drive along the Grande Corniche mountain road with a tired streetwalker.

The next day in Nice, Kai meets his old friend Liévin. He suggests they go to Monza together to test a new racing car. On the way, their car collides with a convertible driven by American Maud Philby. Philby’s car breaks down, and the men tow it. At the racetrack, it turns out that factory driver Holstein has injured his arm. Wanting to help the company and test his skills, Kai gets behind the wheel and finishes fourth. There, he meets American champion Murphy. Designer Pesch invites Kai to become the team’s official driver for the upcoming competition.

Intrigue, night challenges and the Milan Cup

Kai spends time on the Riviera. He chats with Prince Fiola and attends a party at the Princess of Parma’s. There, he spots the enigmatic Liliane Dunkirk, whom he’s already crossed paths with at the gaming table. Meanwhile, Maud Philby weaves intrigues, pitting Kai against Murphy. She seeks to turn the men’s passion for sport into a means of personal amusement. Maud flirts with everyone, but is met only with Kai’s ironic restraint.

Preparations for the Milan race are in full swing. In a shed near the circuit, Kai and Holstein lighten the front end of the car by removing the brakes from the front wheels and adding graphite to the oil. That night, they hear the engine hum and discover Murphy secretly timing himself on the empty track. Kai takes his car out into the moonlight and outperforms his rival. The day before the race, Kai visits the Princess of Parma, who gives him an antique Korean coin for good luck.

On the day of the Milan Cup race, Kai is delayed on the starting grid due to a malfunction, losing almost a minute. Having caught up with his rivals, he makes one overtake after another. Murphy leads, but Kai steadily closes the gap. On the final lap, two small lap dogs run onto the track. Kai brakes sharply in front of the dogs to save their lives. By breaking the rules, he concedes the victory to Murphy, but wins the admiration of the spectators. The dogs’ owner expresses her gratitude with a kiss, and reporters praise the driver’s noble gesture.

Duel, St. Moritz and sea voyage

At the Sporting Club, during a clay pigeon competition, Kai publicly refuses to shoot live pigeons. He is assisted by Liliane Dunkerque. Viscount Courbisson, who was nearby, takes the criticism personally and challenges Kai to a duel. Kai agrees, but promises his seconds to miss. Courbisson, grieving over his breakup with Liliane, spends the night hesitating, arrives late for the duel, and retracts the challenge. Kai shows sensitivity to his young opponent and promises to speak with him later.

Wanting a distraction, Kai takes Holstein with him and goes to visit Barbara in snowy St. Moritz. They go skiing, spend the evening in a mountain hut, and enjoy the Alpine scenery. Kai notices that Barbara is maturing, and a chemistry develops between her and Holstein. Realizing his own unpreparedness for family life, Kai retreats. Returning south, he spends a few days with Maud Philby. She tries to learn the secret of his carburetor, but Kai leaves her in the lurch and hands her over to Liewen.

Soon Kai boards Liliane’s yacht, the Dunkerque. They set sail for the shores of Sicily. Spending days on the ocean, they fence on deck, fish, listen to the radio, drink special cocktails, and have evening conversations under the moonlight. Neither demands vows or eternal fidelity from the other. They savor the moment, knowing their romance will end immediately upon entering port. Arriving in Palermo, they bid a warm farewell.

Victory in Sicily and the return home

In the Sicilian town of Termini, preparations begin for the European Trophy race at the Madonie circuit. Prince Fiola suffers from malaria, and Kai takes on Courbisson as his teammate. The 108-kilometer track, with 1,500 corners and 40-degree heat, proves a severe test. Holstein’s car breaks down after a collision, and Lieven crashes his car and injures his shoulder. Kai is left as the sole driver for his team.

Kai drives the car through scorching dust and heat. Courbisson burns his hands until they bleed on the hot radiator, helping to steady the car after a skid. Overcoming the pain of his burned feet and a suffocating thirst, Kai catches Murphy. On the final stretch along the coast, he overtakes the American and finishes first, six minutes ahead. Avoiding the pomp and circumstance of the celebrations and reporters, the winner retreats to the shade, takes a bath, and rests.

After saying goodbye to his friends, Kai drives across Italy and Germany to his family estate. At night, he stops in the park near the manor house and looks at the dark windows of Barbara’s room. He realizes that a quiet country life will remain an elusive ideal for him, and that his destiny is one of constant movement. Kai sends a telegram to Holstein, inviting him to live on the estate with Barbara. Kai wraps his dog, Frute, in a blanket, starts the car, and sets off again for the French Riviera.