Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66084 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-28
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 784 pages

Synopsis
Hasek's most important work was centered around the deeply funny story of a hapless Czech soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army -- dismissed for incompetence only to be pressed into service by the Russians in World War I (where he is captured by his own troops). A mischief-maker, bohemian and drunk, Hasek demonstrated his wit in this classic novel of the Czech character and preposterous nature of war.

Customer Reviews

A masterpiece, Parrot's, remains the best translation!
I have lost my copy of this book, and in searching for a possible replacement I found there is a newer translation in "print on demand" form. However whilst being praised as better and more accurate than Parrot's version (this one) it looses the sense of the original as a rendition of Czech in comprehensible English. Parrot however whilst perhaps toning down some of the swearing seems to capture the Czech idioms with that halting quality I experienced when traveling through Bohemia and Moravia with a good Czech to English translator during the 1980's. Indeed it is only when you come across a bad translator who managed to make Czech sound exactly like Shakespeare (for archaic expressions and flow) that you realize just how hard it is to translate Czech to English or for that matter any other language. The problem lies in the use of idioms rather than direct speech and in order to render the language comprehensibly in English the idioms have to be reinterpreted. Parrot does this brilliantly in my view. This is a must read book for anyone especially those interested in military activity during WW1, the remnants of Austro-Hungarian rule and the history of Bohemia & Moravia. Highly enjoyable by the way!

Unsteady but great book
I don't know much about novels but I recognise when I read one like Svejk. I must also admit that style of book is unsteady, I believe that is because author didn't get the book quite ready before he died. Some parts of the book could need some editing but when author is dead it's better not to touch the text. So if you feel that there's a bit boring twenty pages go a head read on good stuff might burst you to laugh on a very next page.

hilarious and poignant
Svejk's journey from dog breeder to orderly in a Czech regiment sent to fight on the Galician front against the Russians in WW1 gives us a fascinating and humanising glimpse into a world usually only accessed via grainy black and white snaps. The wicked humour Hasek employs transcends the 90 year time gap and lays bare the moral bankruptcy of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The author's many delirious ravings, while lengthening the book enormously, are often unspeakably funny and inspired!