About:
The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek is a classic Czech novel about an observant, but not too bright (maybe?) soldier in World War I. Mr. Hajek was a writer and satirist who is considered an anarchist with a passion to satirize persons in authority.
- 784 pages
- Publisher : Penguin Classics
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 0140449914
My rating for The Good Soldier Švejk – 5
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More Books by Jaroslav Hašek *
Thoughts:
I have known about this book since childhood, I remember my dad mentioning it, but never found time to read it. I’m actually glad I waited this long, most likely, I wouldn’t have understood much of the jokes and humor. As is, I felt much was lost to translation – just to be clear, this is not the fault of the translator.
The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek follows the protagonist in his attempts to survive and face the absurdities thrown at him. Mr. Hašek’s disdain of authority, and the shortcomings of individuals who hold high positions is obvious and biting. So much, in fact, That many politicians, officers, and intellectuals found the book threatening and often successfully managed to outright ban it.
Much of the books is a collection of tales told by Švejk to make some absurd point, mostly to their chagrin. It is filled with a large number of characters which are either directly connected to the plot or through Švejk’s anecdotes.
I still haven’t figured out if Švejk is an idiot as everyone, including him, says he is, or smarter than all of them put together. He is full of contradictions and we never know whether or not he actually means what he says or does, or aiming for an opposite outcome.
Many reviewers compared this book to Forrest Gump or Catch-22, but it reminded me more of the social commentary in Gulliver’s Travels, a journey of the protagonist and his relationship to society run by pompous, self-important ignoramuses. Much like Swift‘s novel, this is a travel-adventure story where many of the characters are caricatures of social stereotypes. The atheist priest, for example, or those in authority whose true character of vanity, hypocrisy, and outright stupidity is exposed by a low-born peasant who they consider several degrees below them.
I thought this novel was both hilarious and grim at the same time. The unrelenting irony against all types of hypocrisy (but mainly religion), and all forms of social bureaucracy that claim authority over the common people are what makes this book one of the greatest anti-war novels every written.
Synopsis:
Josef Švejk, a passionate and faithful citizen of the Austrian Empire is enthusiastic about serving his country after the assassination of Arch. Bike Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Regardless of his suffering from rheumatism, is recruited into the Army as a Batman for Chaplain Otto Katz who’s an expert at finding easy jobs away from the dangerous front.
Katz loses in a bet to Senior Lieutenant Lukáš and our hero finds himself closer to the front, and causing endless headaches for Lukáš. After getting lost, velk finds his way back to his regiment and to the front… almost.
Buy The Good Soldier Švejk from Amazon.com*
More Books by Jaroslav Hašek *
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got bought this book
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