The Good Soldier Svejk

The Good Soldier Svejk (occasionally, Schweik or Schwejk, and with extended titles) is a world-famous unfinished novel written by Czech humorist Jaroslav Hašek in the early 1920s. The original Czech title of the work is Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka za světové války.

The novel tells a story of the Czech soldier Švejk, who undermines the Austrian army's war effort with his sloppiness and exploits every possible situation for his own good.

The novel was never finished, because Hašek died in 1923 right in the middle of his work.

Švejkovat has since become a common Czech word for chicanery.

English translations

At least three English-language translations of Švejk have been published:

• The Good Soldier Schweik, tr. Paul Selver, 1930.
• The Good Soldier Svejk and His Fortunes in the World War, tr. Cecil Parrott, 1973.
• The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Svejk During the World War, tr. Zdenek Sadlon and Emmit Joyce, 2000.

The translations are generally perceived as evolving from good to better.

Filmed versions

• A 13 part TV series in German, Die Abenteuer des braven Soldaten Schwejk, directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner, was made and broadcast by the Austrian state TV (ORF) in 1972. The title role was played by Fritz Muliar.