The Good Soldier Švejk - Jaroslav Hašek

The Good Soldier Svejk - Jaroslav Hasek
The Good Soldier Svejk - Jaroslav Hasek

Satirical anti-war novel in which the absurdity and hypocrisy of the military, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the church are repeatedly revealed through the main character's enthusiasm for obeying authority.

Submitted by Reddebrek on August 24, 2013

Comments

Ramona

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Ramona on August 24, 2013

Oh my god this is incredible!! I saw a load of the animation a few months ago. Thank you!

Black Badger

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Black Badger on August 25, 2013

There was a two-part film made in Czechoslovakia in the '50s and in Germany in 1960 (I think). The Czech actor looks almost exactly like the drawings!

Chilli Sauce

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Chilli Sauce on August 25, 2013

There were films? I had no idea. Links?

Great addition to library in any case.

the button

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by the button on August 25, 2013

So much love for this book. Read for the first time thirty years ago (FFFFFFUUUUU).

Black Badger

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Black Badger on August 25, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8T6urTz3S0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwWexJ72MbI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMehH5mCwd8

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053674/
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Soldier-Schweik-Franz-Muxeneder/dp/B00074CC14

Reddebrek

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Reddebrek on August 25, 2013

Apparently Svejk was originally a serial character, I've added the collection of the original sketches before Hasek began the novel.

Also the site I got these from has a pretty extensive bio and collection of his writings http://socialiststories.net/writers/jaroslav-hasek/

Cooked

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Cooked on August 26, 2013

Hmm.. I swear I've seen a version with Klaus Kinsky. Thought It was directed by Werner Herzog but I can't find any evidence of it on the interwebz.

slothjabber

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by slothjabber on August 26, 2013

Ah, I recently gave up defeated. It had been sitting round on my bedside table for most of the last year. Only got up to the part where the Chaplain sold him to Lieutenant Lukas, I guess that's about a third of the way through. I feel inadequate now.

Serge Forward

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Serge Forward on August 26, 2013

This is one of the best books ever. The translation is a bit stodgy though. There is however, a new print on demand translation doing the rounds. The original Penguin translator did Hašek's The Red Commissar which contains the further adventures of Švejk and other stories. I've also got an Esperanto language collection called Ne nur Soldato Ŝvejk (Not only soldier Ŝvejk), which contains a fair bit of autobiographical stuff.

One of my favourite stories about Hašek was when he somehow got this job as editor of a nature magazine. He got fired when, for a laugh, he published articles about animals he's just made up :D

Auld-bod

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Auld-bod on August 26, 2013

A great book though you have to be in the mood to really enjoy it.

‘The Bad Bohemian – The Life of Jaroslav Hasek’ (Abacus/Sphere 1983), by Sir Cecil Parrott is informative about his life, though rather ‘stuffy’ as indicated by the author’s name!

wojtek

10 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by wojtek on August 26, 2013

‘The Bad Bohemian – The Life of Jaroslav Hasek’ (Abacus/Sphere 1983), by Sir Cecil Parrott is informative about his life, though rather ‘stuffy’ as indicated by the author’s name!

http://socialiststories.net/liberate/The%20Bad%20Bohemian%20-%20Cecil%20Parrott.pdf

Gepetto

9 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Gepetto on August 11, 2014

All along the line,' said the volunteer, pulling the blanket over him, 'everything in the army stinks of rottenness. Up till now the wide-eyed masses haven't woken up to it. With goggling eyes they let themselves be made into mincemeat and then when they're struck by a bullet they just whisper, "Mummy!" Heroes don't exist, only cattle for the slaughter and the butchers in the general staffs. But in the end every body will mutiny and there will be a fine shambles. Long live the army! Goodnight!

augustynww

9 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by augustynww on August 12, 2014

Svejk monument in Poland :)

http://visit.przemysl.pl/media/photo/133

Norman Young

7 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Norman Young on August 11, 2016

So true there!

altemark

7 years 7 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by altemark on August 12, 2016

Loved it when I was younger, should give it a re-read.