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Product Description
Product Description
An attack on war which broadens into a satire on the ANCIEN REGIME of the Austro-Hungarian empire, THE GOOD SOLDIER SVEJK recreates the age-old figure of the simple soldier whose sheer determination to survive brings into question the mighty social and political institutions he confronts. Set in a Central Europe which has long since vanished, Hasek's novel is nevertheless a timeless portrait of the 'little man' doughtily waging his own war against authority
About the Author
Jaroslav HaA ek (1883-1923) Besides this book, the writer wrote more than 2,000 short works, short stories, glosses, sketches, mostly under various pen-names.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If I were born again, I would happily be Svejk.
On the face of it, this simpleton dog seller from Prague has nothing going for him. Even the dogs he sells are mongrels, made up to look like pedigrees (with fake certification, naturally).
As the story progresses, you find he is not only intelligent, but uses dumb ignorance to get his way. From almost starting a riot in Wenceslas Square, to being lost by his officer in a card game, to being captured by his own troops, the scrapes Hasek creates for his hero will make you laugh out loud.
Don't be scared if you think the setting is outdated, the footnotes are excellent in explaining the context. I guarantee you will recognise many of the characters in people you have met.
One word of warning though. Hasek died while writing this masterpiece. Literally in mid paragraph. Its frustrating, but makes you wonder, what if....
On the face of it, this simpleton dog seller from Prague has nothing going for him. Even the dogs he sells are mongrels, made up to look like pedigrees (with fake certification, naturally).
As the story progresses, you find he is not only intelligent, but uses dumb ignorance to get his way. From almost starting a riot in Wenceslas Square, to being lost by his officer in a card game, to being captured by his own troops, the scrapes Hasek creates for his hero will make you laugh out loud.
Don't be scared if you think the setting is outdated, the footnotes are excellent in explaining the context. I guarantee you will recognise many of the characters in people you have met.
One word of warning though. Hasek died while writing this masterpiece. Literally in mid paragraph. Its frustrating, but makes you wonder, what if....
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Svejk, a man who sells dogs for a living in Prague after being discharged from the army for stupidity is an instantly likeable character. His escapades throughout the war however depict a man able to very cleverly use his reputation for idiocy to avoid the frontline. Along the way he meets numerous characters which the author uses well to display his disdain for religion, royalty, the army, politicians and authority in general. This is a tale of the ordinary man and his ordinary acquaintances who happen to be unwilling participants in an horrific event in world history. The book is very long indeed and there is a section in the middle where nothing seems to happen and can be hard work. The book however pulls itself together as Svejk and his companions are herded towards the frontline and where Svejk's crowning glory is to be captured by his own army. Overall Svejk is the star and while his comical and often ludicrous stories frequently amount to nothing, they do give a feel for the lives of the average Czech at the time.
This book is well worth a go, you may give up on it as some people I know have but if your a fan of stories depicting the small man doing his best to resist against the big machine then you'll enjoy Svejk.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
THis is a piece of WW1 fiction with a differnce. It like the rest is portarying the nastiness of war. Yet Hasek does this in a fashion where he does not expose the horrors that undoubtedly occured,he merely shows the absurdity of war, the ridiculous nature of bureaucracy and for me reminicses about the sheer irony of life.
I think that in one sense this book can be compared to another great czech writer, Kafka in that it shows the individual up against this faceless system which seems to mercilessly persectute a person for being themselves. This theme is evident in both the writers works. However whist Kafka seems to dwell in a pit of self absorbtion and shivering paranoia Hasek laughs at it, shameless mocking the entire concept. The value of the book rests however on the pure enjoyment one gains from reading it, the smirking laughter it induces and the broad grins are in reality the sole reason to read this brilliant book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not great
This was the first time I bought something this sort, dvd or book, in second hand and must say it wasnt great experience. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ricardo Marques
A "Must Read" Book!
One of the funniest books I have ever read. Ends rather abruptly, as the author died before finishing it, but this is a book to be kept and enjoyed many times over. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Elgar
The Good Soldier and his Parrott
This is an excellent translation of this classic story. The hardback Everyman's Library edition is beautifully produced. It is unabridged. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2009 by C. A. O'Toole
Chose between Schweik and Svejk.
One of my top three favourite books [with' Catch 22' and' Ulysses'], The Good Soldier Schweik is a treat every time. Read more
Published on 29 Feb 2008 by Alan Kemp
Timeless, humorous, wonderful
As someone who often has trouble with books not written in the last 30 years, I was a little daunted at the idea of reading a book written at the time of the First World War. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2004 by Dan Sumption
A great satire and war novel
Many people have compared ‘…Svejk’ to Catch-22, and I think that this book is worthy of that comparison. Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2003 by Depressaholic
maybe the best novel of the 20th century
Svejk is not the sort of novel that would appeal to James Joyce, Virginia Woolf or Henry James fans. Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2003 by "leventis3"
still as good as i remembered it
i'll not rehash the plot of the book again, as others have done it better and at greater length below. just one small observation tho'... Read more
Published on 31 July 2003 by madra
Beats Catch 22, any day
For years I thought Catch 22 was the ultimate anti war novel. I even saw a lecture by Joseph Heller before he died. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2003 by MR GERRET LORENZEN
Very Good Soldier...
In these troubled and belligerent times of ours, the world could do with a great novel to make us laugh at the folly of war, and at the same time question the nature of allegiance. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2003 by L. Howard
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