Hašek's The Good Soldier Švejk is an absolutely essential read, it has to be in the list of the top 100 books to read before one departs this planet!
Not only is it hilariously funny it's also full of the tribulations of life and how the system—bureaucracies—here the army—lands one in absurd and unexpected situations.
It's a great shame Hašek died so young (he was a great observer of human nature).
Do yourself a real favor, read it or get an audio book.
Švejk is what I call a "scalable" book. It works for readers of almost any level. The first time I read it I was maybe 8 years old and had a lot of fun, even though I completely missed most of the nuance.
For those that loved the book. Hasek also wrote an autobiography, which is even funnier than the life of Svejk. It's definitely made up quite a bit, but the stories in it are great. I cannot find english title ( it might have been not printed ), but transleting from polish it's called "3.5 beer".
Spoilers!!! Stories include:
- One time he wrote to paper called animals and unfortunately run out of animals to write, so he just started inventing them. It ended up in year long trip to Australia paid by some wealthy women who really wanted to get her own "Tasmanian Vampire"
- Russian general invades city. Hasek knows the best way to stay alive is to have a drink with him. They get very drunk and general ask Hasek what's his biggest problem. Hasek says that the fact that people cannot read. Next day he wakes up to bunch of posters around the city saying that whoever will not be able to read by noon tomorrow will be executed.
Remember that some autobiographical themes are used in the Shvejk book itself.
In particular, the volunteer Marek had been an editor for an Animal World journal, where he published articles about made up animals. And even entered a public debate with some ornithologist who questioned his articles. That's in the chapter Skvejk's Adventures in Kyralyhida.
If I remember correctly, Hashek was also selling dogs in real life (Shvejk's profession in the book).
One of the very few books that literally had me rolling on the floor laughing -- not exaggerating for effect here, I have in fact fell from the sofa on the floor and started laughing until I wheezed and couldn't breathe. Especially the segment with the military preacher whom Švejk was an assistant of -- and when he had to get him home after he got dead-drunk. My gods, I can almost remember how much my tummy hurt back then!
That being said, all the stuff about censorship and getting arrested for "treason" (basically for a political joke at the bar) hit too close to home for me, and I am from a former Soviet block country, and I found those pieces very depressing. Still, I went through all books -- several times -- and enjoyed them a lot. The author really captured a lot of absurdities very well.
> all the stuff about censorship and getting arrested for "treason" (basically for a political joke at the bar) hit too close to home for me, and I am from a former Soviet block country, and I found those pieces very depressing.
You may probably find it curious that Hashek ended up being a bolshevik and a red army commissar.
Same here, I was in tears I was laughing that much. I found it funny because I recognized those silly maddening situations from my own life. We all experience them but it takes a master like Hašek to remind us about how absurd they really are.
That being said, all the stuff about censorship and getting arrested for "treason" (basically for a political joke at the bar)
I think you didn't get it right. The joke is that they go out of their way to not say anything offensive, knowing that the situation is tense, but they get arrested anyway.
From all the books I've read, the good soldier Švejk stands out as one of the most memorable characters. I love the style of the writing, how it shows the absurdity of bureaucracy, war, and society through the person of Švejk, perpetually drinking and getting into trouble, innocent like a dove and wise as a serpent, he always finds his way out of any predicament, while having his fun. He represents an aspect of the indomitable spirit of humanity and humor.
The illustrations by Josef Lada are wonderful too, they are essential to the reading experience and imaginary world of the book.
A classic. The movie versions are available on YouTube with English subtitles but it's not the same. A part of the charm of Švejk played by Rudolf Hrušínský is the way he talks and that gets lost if you don't speak Czech.
I think an entrepreneur should establish a tour in the Czech lands, to walk in the footsteps of švejk as of when he drank away the money for his train ticket sending his company to the front, thereby forcing him to zig zag across the land in the hope of rejoining them. It will be the Czech Camino de Santiago, and one must carry a pipe and a bottle of slivovic as they go.
>I think an entrepreneur should establish a tour in the Czech lands, to walk in the footsteps of švejk as of when he drank away the money for his train ticket sending his company to the front, thereby forcing him to zig zag across the land in the hope of rejoining them. It will be the Czech Camino de Santiago, and one must carry a pipe and a bottle of slivovic as they go.
Pretty sure I've seen ads for exactly that kind of tour.
Might be a false memory. But in any case, it's my goal to do that sort of pilgrimage when I get to properly spend time in Czechia.
I was introduced to the character by way of Bertolt Brecht's Schweyk im zweiten Weltkrieg (Švejk in the Second World War)[0], which was meant as a sequel to Hašek's original and which I read in school- unfortunately too long ago to remember much of anything but Švejk's good-natured bumbling.
We also read Biedermann und die Brandstifter (The Fire Raisers/The Arsonists)[1], also by Brecht, which I remember somewhat more vividly. The main character is an ordinary guy who thinks he could never be fooled by arsonists, but allows a pair of them to fill his home with flammable material and ends up aiding them in his own demise. I worry that we have failed to learn the lessons of this kind of Nachkriegsliteratur (Post-WWII literature).
Amusing anecdote - last year I tried to buy a copy of Švejk in Prague and I had the following exchange in a bookshop (in Czech).
Me: "Hello, do you have a copy of Švejk?"
Assistant: "No."
M: "Uh, OK, do you know of anyone that might?"
A: "No, no one has any Švejk right now!"
M: "I see. Is there any reason for that?"
A: "Everyone has already read it." walks off in a huff
It seemed somehow fitting. 'You can't read Švejk because everyone has already read it, and we're insulted you'd even ask for it in our bookshop.' There's a reason the Czech lands have given the rest of the world both Hašek and Kafka!
I was raised in Eastern Bloc in 70 and 80s. Svejk was the classic we all read as teenagers. We have seen that as parody of communism and always wondered how is that book not censored or forbidden?
Now I realize it describes any sufficient evolved (i.e. broken) system, which might have been good enough excuse for the soviets not to make it verbotten.
I think it wasn't censored because it was so critical of imperialism, so soviet censors viewed it as 'progressive' and aiding their cause.
I think it never occurred to censors that the satire of the book would transcend the Austro-Hungarian Empire and would work as a satire of a soviet bureaucracy just as well. This, it was widely available both in USSR and in other Eastern Block countries, and even had luxury editions, I still have one such edition.
Like the joke about Stalin's underling muttering under his breath about "that bastard with the moustache", I wouldn't be surprised if either (a) the original censors had said "anti Austria-Hungary good" without giving a moment's thought as to how well the satire fit their own system, or (b) a particularly bright censor (or set of censors) realised they could always fall back on (a) for plausible deniability. Compare https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39697389 (or https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ru/b/ba/Sharik_Figvam... ?)
This is my comfort book. I've read it 6 or 7 times, first time when I was around 12 years old. It's a book which still has the ability to pull me out of whatever pit I am at certain times.
However, having compared the French translation to the original in Czech, I have to warn French-language readers that the translation was atrocious. As in, completely making up words and sentences that were not in the original. (Unfortunately, I know nothing about translations into English, and cannot recommend a good one.)
Interestingly, Milan Kundera wrote a book (in French) that I highly recommend [0]. He draws examples from many different artistic works to weave a fascinating story discussing to what extent we can or should stay faithful to the original intention of an artist or creator.
Maybe Hasek intended a double meaning of "dobry vojak" as a) good-natured soldier and b) high-quality soldier (which would be sarcasm), but TBH the option b) just never occurred to me (I'm a native Czech speaker).
I tried to read the book as a kid when I was maybe 6h or 7th grade, along with Jules Verne and what else. Didn't finish it, heck, I abandoned it quickly.
Maybe it's one of those things that you need to be an adult to appreciate. Unfortunately there's no lack of content nowadays, so I'm not sure I'll give the book another try.
A favorite of both my dad and I. I've only read it twice -- once as a teenager and once as a college junior -- and loved it both times, while he rereads it every so often. As my dad would say, it's the type of book that you can read many times and discover something new every time.
[+] [-] hilbert42|2 years ago|reply
Not only is it hilariously funny it's also full of the tribulations of life and how the system—bureaucracies—here the army—lands one in absurd and unexpected situations.
It's a great shame Hašek died so young (he was a great observer of human nature).
Do yourself a real favor, read it or get an audio book.
[+] [-] The_Colonel|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] poloniculmov|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sigma5|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mooreds|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] scandox|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rompledorph|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] maciekpaprocki|2 years ago|reply
Spoilers!!! Stories include:
- One time he wrote to paper called animals and unfortunately run out of animals to write, so he just started inventing them. It ended up in year long trip to Australia paid by some wealthy women who really wanted to get her own "Tasmanian Vampire"
- Russian general invades city. Hasek knows the best way to stay alive is to have a drink with him. They get very drunk and general ask Hasek what's his biggest problem. Hasek says that the fact that people cannot read. Next day he wakes up to bunch of posters around the city saying that whoever will not be able to read by noon tomorrow will be executed.
[+] [-] avodonosov|2 years ago|reply
In particular, the volunteer Marek had been an editor for an Animal World journal, where he published articles about made up animals. And even entered a public debate with some ornithologist who questioned his articles. That's in the chapter Skvejk's Adventures in Kyralyhida.
If I remember correctly, Hashek was also selling dogs in real life (Shvejk's profession in the book).
[+] [-] ufocia|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] weinzierl|2 years ago|reply
"Then, see you after the war, at six o’clock in the evening." Vodička said.
"Better come at six-thirty to be safe if I’m late," Švejk replied.
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:U_Kalicha_(Pra...
[+] [-] romwell|2 years ago|reply
Context: "U Kalicha" refers to a bar in Prague (translation: At the Chalice).
The wikimedia link takes one to a photo of the bar today.
[+] [-] chalst|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bitsinthesky|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pdimitar|2 years ago|reply
That being said, all the stuff about censorship and getting arrested for "treason" (basically for a political joke at the bar) hit too close to home for me, and I am from a former Soviet block country, and I found those pieces very depressing. Still, I went through all books -- several times -- and enjoyed them a lot. The author really captured a lot of absurdities very well.
[+] [-] avodonosov|2 years ago|reply
You may probably find it curious that Hashek ended up being a bolshevik and a red army commissar.
[+] [-] hilbert42|2 years ago|reply
Same here, I was in tears I was laughing that much. I found it funny because I recognized those silly maddening situations from my own life. We all experience them but it takes a master like Hašek to remind us about how absurd they really are.
[+] [-] Anotheroneagain|2 years ago|reply
I think you didn't get it right. The joke is that they go out of their way to not say anything offensive, knowing that the situation is tense, but they get arrested anyway.
[+] [-] unknown|2 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] lioeters|2 years ago|reply
The illustrations by Josef Lada are wonderful too, they are essential to the reading experience and imaginary world of the book.
[+] [-] isolli|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] frankjr|2 years ago|reply
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI9OKaz6yQ0
[+] [-] flipthefrog|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] yread|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bitsinthesky|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] romwell|2 years ago|reply
Pretty sure I've seen ads for exactly that kind of tour.
Might be a false memory. But in any case, it's my goal to do that sort of pilgrimage when I get to properly spend time in Czechia.
[+] [-] drewzero1|2 years ago|reply
We also read Biedermann und die Brandstifter (The Fire Raisers/The Arsonists)[1], also by Brecht, which I remember somewhat more vividly. The main character is an ordinary guy who thinks he could never be fooled by arsonists, but allows a pair of them to fill his home with flammable material and ends up aiding them in his own demise. I worry that we have failed to learn the lessons of this kind of Nachkriegsliteratur (Post-WWII literature).
0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweik_in_the_Second_World_Wa...
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fire_Raisers_(play)
[+] [-] coredog64|2 years ago|reply
[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Time_for_Sergeants
[+] [-] troad|2 years ago|reply
Me: "Hello, do you have a copy of Švejk?"
Assistant: "No."
M: "Uh, OK, do you know of anyone that might?"
A: "No, no one has any Švejk right now!"
M: "I see. Is there any reason for that?"
A: "Everyone has already read it." walks off in a huff
It seemed somehow fitting. 'You can't read Švejk because everyone has already read it, and we're insulted you'd even ask for it in our bookshop.' There's a reason the Czech lands have given the rest of the world both Hašek and Kafka!
[+] [-] ufocia|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] limaoscarjuliet|2 years ago|reply
Now I realize it describes any sufficient evolved (i.e. broken) system, which might have been good enough excuse for the soviets not to make it verbotten.
[+] [-] Andrew_nenakhov|2 years ago|reply
I think it never occurred to censors that the satire of the book would transcend the Austro-Hungarian Empire and would work as a satire of a soviet bureaucracy just as well. This, it was widely available both in USSR and in other Eastern Block countries, and even had luxury editions, I still have one such edition.
[+] [-] aebtebeten|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] maximinus_thrax|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] analog31|2 years ago|reply
It was my grandfather's favorite novel. He fought on the other side.
[+] [-] isolli|2 years ago|reply
However, having compared the French translation to the original in Czech, I have to warn French-language readers that the translation was atrocious. As in, completely making up words and sentences that were not in the original. (Unfortunately, I know nothing about translations into English, and cannot recommend a good one.)
Interestingly, Milan Kundera wrote a book (in French) that I highly recommend [0]. He draws examples from many different artistic works to weave a fascinating story discussing to what extent we can or should stay faithful to the original intention of an artist or creator.
[0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44382.Testaments_Betraye...
[+] [-] wly_cdgr|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] c-smile|2 years ago|reply
Czech "dobrého vojáka" is more "of brave (in `dashing` conotation) soldier".
So Hašek's humor starts right from the title.
[+] [-] The_Colonel|2 years ago|reply
Maybe Hasek intended a double meaning of "dobry vojak" as a) good-natured soldier and b) high-quality soldier (which would be sarcasm), but TBH the option b) just never occurred to me (I'm a native Czech speaker).
[+] [-] jug|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] KingOfCoders|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] MichaelRo|2 years ago|reply
Maybe it's one of those things that you need to be an adult to appreciate. Unfortunately there's no lack of content nowadays, so I'm not sure I'll give the book another try.
[+] [-] leiaru13|2 years ago|reply