Jaroslav Hašek’s satirical novel Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka za svĕtové války (generally known in English as The Good Soldier Švejk) is probably the best-known work of modern Czech fiction. It follows the misadventures of a soldier from Prague, Josef Švejk (sometimes spelled “Schweik” in translation) serving in the Austro-Hungarian Army during the First World War. Throughout the novel, the hero faces his uncertain fate with an unperturbed air, recounting anecdotes to anyone who will listen. While Czechs often consider the deceptively foolish anti-hero Švejk to be a symbol of their national character, he also appeals to readers from other cultures through his ability to escape danger and punishment despite h…
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Citation: Sabatos, Charles. "Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka za světové války". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 November 2015 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35670, accessed 25 November 2024.]
