Salt of the Earth
Quick Summary
Salt of the Earth is a novel by Polish writer Józef Wittlin published in 1936. The book tells the story of an uneducated Polish peasant who is drafted into the Austrian army during wartime.1
The novel focuses not on the battles of war, but on the confusion and bewilderment of an individual fighting against their will and national interests. Wittlin, an Expressionist writer known for his humanist views, used this narrative to protest the dehumanizing effects of powerful states and social systems on individuals.1
The phrase "the salt of the earth" is also used to describe a very good and honest person or group of people.2
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