Der Mensch ist gut

by Leonhard Frank

"Der Mensch ist gut" by Leonhard Frank is a collection of five stories published in 1918. The work advocates radical pacifism through stark portrayals of World War I's cruelties. Each story follows different characters—a waiter, a war widow, a mother, lovers, and a military doctor—whose lives are shattered by war. Frank depicts authoritarian, capitalist societies as the root cause of conflict. The narratives converge as all protagonists join a unified peace protest, culminating in revolution.