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Books 1 and 2 are absolutely flawless, 3 and 4 are still far greater than most authors can reach.
funny
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This took me about a year to read and it was worth every single second. It's so good.
La historia comienza con el asesinato del archiduque Francisco Fernando, que dio pie a la Primera Guerra Mundial; a partir de ahí leemos las aventuras y desventuras del soldado Schwejk. Hašek nos transmite un claro antibelicismo tiñendo de ironía todo el relato, donde los oficiales son inútiles, incapaces o borrachos, los soldados estúpidos y el estamento militar caótico, un sinsentido.
La novela comenzó publicándose por capítulos, según el autor la escribía. Y resultaba una obra satírica, cómica, en la que desfilan un buen número de personajes extravagantes de distinto pelaje y ambientaciones tabernarias. La obra quedó inacabada por la muerte del autor, pero este la llevó hasta un punto que resulta suficiente para dar entidad al libro aún careciendo de un final cerrado, se hace evidente que termina un capítulo más pero no se concluye de ninguna manera ni personajes ni historia ni guerra.
La trama no sigue ningún argumento propiamente dicho, es simplemente una sucesión de desastres que se presentan ante el protagonista. Conoce diversos personajes secundarios, nos detalla lugares por los que pasa o en los que se detiene, observamos distintas reflexiones... todo ello regado por el continuo tono antimilitarista.
Respecto al protagonista, Schwejk, es quien lo desencadena todo, un falso tonto que Hašek aprovecha brillantemente para ridiculizar un estamento tras otro. Extremadamente obediente, cuando es reclutado para servir a su Patria lo acepta con entusiasmo, actuando en todo momento con una devoción que para algunos de los demás personajes acaba siendo una desgracia. Supuestamente es un idiota con una visión de la realidad bastante peculiar, pero presenta una sospechosa habilidad para, tratando de hacer lo correcto, meter la pata. Y, ante todo, acaba logrando que sus superiores parezcan los verdaderos idiotas.
Resulta destacable la forma de conversar de Schwejk, repitiendo hasta el paroxismo diversas historietas, pues todo evento ocurrido le recuerda alguna anécdota acaecida tiempo antes en algún lejano lugar -distinto de cada vez- por algún desconocido personaje -distinto de cada vez-. Estos pequeños monólogos tienen la cualidad de enervar sobremanera a sus interlocutores, especialmente a sus superiores en el ejército, y por lo que he leído por Internet parece que muchas de esas pequeñas historias son autobiográficas, lo cual me hace crear una imagen de Hašek cuando menos curiosa.
El libro, debo reconocer, me ha gustado, tanto la idea de fondo como el tono empleado para transmitirla, así como la descripción de lugares y la construcción de los personajes. Pero según avanzaba páginas mi consideración global iba bajando, se me hizo larga y la última parte incluso pesada. El punto de partida es bueno, muy bueno incluso, pero falla en su ejecución. La técnica empleada logra su objetivo de forma satisfactoria, pero el falso tonto y sus historietas acaban resultando cargantes, la historia no evoluciona de ninguna forma y mi sensación pasado cierto punto era la de estar leyendo lo mismo una y otra vez, el último tercio del libro se me hizo bastante repetitivo hasta el punto de querer acabarla por no estar disfrutando de la lectura como había hecho a lo largo de los primeros capítulos.
Si hubiese reducido la historia a la mitad evitando todo esa repetición de situaciones, mi valoración final hubiese mejorado notablemente.
La novela comenzó publicándose por capítulos, según el autor la escribía. Y resultaba una obra satírica, cómica, en la que desfilan un buen número de personajes extravagantes de distinto pelaje y ambientaciones tabernarias. La obra quedó inacabada por la muerte del autor, pero este la llevó hasta un punto que resulta suficiente para dar entidad al libro aún careciendo de un final cerrado, se hace evidente que termina un capítulo más pero no se concluye de ninguna manera ni personajes ni historia ni guerra.
La trama no sigue ningún argumento propiamente dicho, es simplemente una sucesión de desastres que se presentan ante el protagonista. Conoce diversos personajes secundarios, nos detalla lugares por los que pasa o en los que se detiene, observamos distintas reflexiones... todo ello regado por el continuo tono antimilitarista.
Respecto al protagonista, Schwejk, es quien lo desencadena todo, un falso tonto que Hašek aprovecha brillantemente para ridiculizar un estamento tras otro. Extremadamente obediente, cuando es reclutado para servir a su Patria lo acepta con entusiasmo, actuando en todo momento con una devoción que para algunos de los demás personajes acaba siendo una desgracia. Supuestamente es un idiota con una visión de la realidad bastante peculiar, pero presenta una sospechosa habilidad para, tratando de hacer lo correcto, meter la pata. Y, ante todo, acaba logrando que sus superiores parezcan los verdaderos idiotas.
Resulta destacable la forma de conversar de Schwejk, repitiendo hasta el paroxismo diversas historietas, pues todo evento ocurrido le recuerda alguna anécdota acaecida tiempo antes en algún lejano lugar -distinto de cada vez- por algún desconocido personaje -distinto de cada vez-. Estos pequeños monólogos tienen la cualidad de enervar sobremanera a sus interlocutores, especialmente a sus superiores en el ejército, y por lo que he leído por Internet parece que muchas de esas pequeñas historias son autobiográficas, lo cual me hace crear una imagen de Hašek cuando menos curiosa.
El libro, debo reconocer, me ha gustado, tanto la idea de fondo como el tono empleado para transmitirla, así como la descripción de lugares y la construcción de los personajes. Pero según avanzaba páginas mi consideración global iba bajando, se me hizo larga y la última parte incluso pesada. El punto de partida es bueno, muy bueno incluso, pero falla en su ejecución. La técnica empleada logra su objetivo de forma satisfactoria, pero el falso tonto y sus historietas acaban resultando cargantes, la historia no evoluciona de ninguna forma y mi sensación pasado cierto punto era la de estar leyendo lo mismo una y otra vez, el último tercio del libro se me hizo bastante repetitivo hasta el punto de querer acabarla por no estar disfrutando de la lectura como había hecho a lo largo de los primeros capítulos.
Si hubiese reducido la historia a la mitad evitando todo esa repetición de situaciones, mi valoración final hubiese mejorado notablemente.
The great epic tale of the good soldier Svejk-- a great novel to read to better understand Czech culture or just to enjoy an interesting story. Loveable Svejk is one of the more memorable literary characters I've read about; the Forrest Gump of his time. I enjoyed reading about all the places he went, many of them places that I know about or have been here in the Czech Republic. For any interested in Czech literature or fans of Catch-22 and other satirical war novels of the 20th century, this is a must.
The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek is made up of three and a half volumes, although six were originally intended. Unfortunately, Hasek passed away before he was able to complete the story. So, from the onset you realize as a reader that the story will probably end abruptly and without proper resolution.
That said, it still proves to be an enjoyable time!
The majority of the book follows the misadventures and antics of a Czech soldier named Svejk, an everyday man heading into the First World War and who is succinctly described by one of the lieutenants as someone who “pretends to be a half-wit for the sole purpose of concealing his rascality under the mask of imbecility.” On account of his happy-go-lucky attitude, Svejk finds himself in all kinds of humorous situations.
Joining Svejk on his misadventures is a wide assortment of memorable supporting actors: a boozing military chaplain (Katz), a gluttonous batman (Baloun), an overzealous anti-Hungarian comrade (Vodicka), an occultist chef (Jurajda), a ball-breaking educator turned lieutenant (Dub), and many more! The supporting cast of characters add great depth to the story and provide a good range of foils for Hasek to place against Svejk.
In terms of pacing, the book is a bit inconsistent between the first volume and the subsequent ones. The first volume is very snappy and proved to be the highlight of the book for me. Svejk rolls from one situation to another in chapters that never last more than ten pages. Thus, the first volume breezes by.
Unfortunately, to start off the second volume, Svejk gets separated from his traveling regiment and as a result travels on foot through many villages in a journey that Hasek calls “Svejk’s Budejovice Anabasis”. It’s at this point that the story starts moving a bit slower. When Svejk is finally reunited with his regiment, he is immediately put in jail where he meets a military volunteer who suffers from the same long windedness as Svejk. In conversation between the two of them, Hasek manages to waste some 50 pages of the book.
However, once that slow part passes, the fun resumes! The third volume was extremely enjoyable and goes a long way in terms of establishing the characteristics and mannerisms of the primary rotating cast members. It also included one of my favorite vignettes in the book, the story of the unfortunate Cadet Biegler.
Despite pacing issues, the book is unique in the glimpse it offers of military life at the onset of World War I. My lasting impression from the book is its reflection on the futility of war, the emptiness that binds subjects to a monarchy, and the bureaucracy that turns well-meaning objectives into rigmarole and well-meaning people into victims.
In many ways, I felt like current life for me parallels Svejk's life. While his great antagonist was a world war, mine is a global pandemic. Nevertheless, we are linked in the fact that while the circumstances into which we were born are out of our control, what we can control is the way in which we respond to them.
That said, it still proves to be an enjoyable time!
The majority of the book follows the misadventures and antics of a Czech soldier named Svejk, an everyday man heading into the First World War and who is succinctly described by one of the lieutenants as someone who “pretends to be a half-wit for the sole purpose of concealing his rascality under the mask of imbecility.” On account of his happy-go-lucky attitude, Svejk finds himself in all kinds of humorous situations.
Joining Svejk on his misadventures is a wide assortment of memorable supporting actors: a boozing military chaplain (Katz), a gluttonous batman (Baloun), an overzealous anti-Hungarian comrade (Vodicka), an occultist chef (Jurajda), a ball-breaking educator turned lieutenant (Dub), and many more! The supporting cast of characters add great depth to the story and provide a good range of foils for Hasek to place against Svejk.
In terms of pacing, the book is a bit inconsistent between the first volume and the subsequent ones. The first volume is very snappy and proved to be the highlight of the book for me. Svejk rolls from one situation to another in chapters that never last more than ten pages. Thus, the first volume breezes by.
Unfortunately, to start off the second volume, Svejk gets separated from his traveling regiment and as a result travels on foot through many villages in a journey that Hasek calls “Svejk’s Budejovice Anabasis”. It’s at this point that the story starts moving a bit slower. When Svejk is finally reunited with his regiment, he is immediately put in jail where he meets a military volunteer who suffers from the same long windedness as Svejk. In conversation between the two of them, Hasek manages to waste some 50 pages of the book.
However, once that slow part passes, the fun resumes! The third volume was extremely enjoyable and goes a long way in terms of establishing the characteristics and mannerisms of the primary rotating cast members. It also included one of my favorite vignettes in the book, the story of the unfortunate Cadet Biegler.
Despite pacing issues, the book is unique in the glimpse it offers of military life at the onset of World War I. My lasting impression from the book is its reflection on the futility of war, the emptiness that binds subjects to a monarchy, and the bureaucracy that turns well-meaning objectives into rigmarole and well-meaning people into victims.
In many ways, I felt like current life for me parallels Svejk's life. While his great antagonist was a world war, mine is a global pandemic. Nevertheless, we are linked in the fact that while the circumstances into which we were born are out of our control, what we can control is the way in which we respond to them.
This book had been sitting on my shelf for a couple of years, long enough for me to forget when and how I ended up with a copy. I had always thought that the man with the beard on the front cover was Svejk in some sort of kooky situation. Imagine my surprise when I found out that it's from one of Svejk's anecdotes about a man who makes money by analyzing urine. Everyone hates him because the results are always to eat more vegetables.
The premise is that Svejk, who once made a living by selling stolen dogs, has been drafted into the Austo-Hungarian military, an inept and corrupt bureaucracy populated by dimwitted officers. Evidently, this is an accurate portrayal of Austia-Hungary during WWI. Supposedly the Austrian high command was so incompetent that German General Erich von Ludendorff said that Germany was "shackled to a corpse" and that they were a ‘drain on German blood and German war industries’ throughout the war. The most succinct illustration of this is the brigadier-general who has gone insane and broadcasts inane orders that, nevertheless, are delivered with the caveat that the bg is now in a sanitarium and to ignore the telegrams.
This incompetence manifests itself as cruelty. Take for instance an extended sequence where the soldier's rations aren't delivered at any of the supply points, and it's decided to instead pay the men the equivalent cost of the food that they would have eaten. Of course, since money is tight, the officers decide to delay the pay until after the company fights at the front, saving 24 crowns for each man shot dead.
On the whole, the book plays out like slapstick with Svejk making fools of the people he comes into contact with, all the while telling anecdotes that annoy most everyone he talks to. It's an enjoyable read and I would say much of the humor falls into the Sensible Chuckle category, rising to Guffaws every now and again. It occasionally becomes a bit of a slog, and I became as exasperated with Svejk's anecdotes as everyone in the novel is, but I would still recommend it.
The premise is that Svejk, who once made a living by selling stolen dogs, has been drafted into the Austo-Hungarian military, an inept and corrupt bureaucracy populated by dimwitted officers. Evidently, this is an accurate portrayal of Austia-Hungary during WWI. Supposedly the Austrian high command was so incompetent that German General Erich von Ludendorff said that Germany was "shackled to a corpse" and that they were a ‘drain on German blood and German war industries’ throughout the war. The most succinct illustration of this is the brigadier-general who has gone insane and broadcasts inane orders that, nevertheless, are delivered with the caveat that the bg is now in a sanitarium and to ignore the telegrams.
This incompetence manifests itself as cruelty. Take for instance an extended sequence where the soldier's rations aren't delivered at any of the supply points, and it's decided to instead pay the men the equivalent cost of the food that they would have eaten. Of course, since money is tight, the officers decide to delay the pay until after the company fights at the front, saving 24 crowns for each man shot dead.
On the whole, the book plays out like slapstick with Svejk making fools of the people he comes into contact with, all the while telling anecdotes that annoy most everyone he talks to. It's an enjoyable read and I would say much of the humor falls into the Sensible Chuckle category, rising to Guffaws every now and again. It occasionally becomes a bit of a slog, and I became as exasperated with Svejk's anecdotes as everyone in the novel is, but I would still recommend it.
The association consisted of hysterical old women who distributed to the soldiers in the hospitals icons of saints and stories about a Catholic warrior dying for His Imperial Majesty. These stories had a coloured illustration of a battlefield. There were lying about everywhere human corpses and horse carcasses, overturned munition trains and gun carriages. On the horizon villages were burning and shrapnel bursting. In the foreground lay a dying soldier with his leg torn off. An angel was bending over him and bringing him a wreath with the inscription on the ribbon: “This very day you will be with me in paradise.” And the dying man was smiling blissfully, as though they were bringing him an ice cream.
-Excerpt from The Good Soldier Svejk
In Singapore, there was famous sitcom in the 1990s called Under One Roof. From time to time, the family patriarch, Mr Tan Ah Teck (played by Moses Lim), will ramble about some obscure story set in the distant past in the southern province of China...
Well, around 70 years before this sitcom, there was a book called The Good Soldier Svejk. There are plenty of short stories in the book, lots of them, ranging from the ridiculously insane to the insanely boring. A lot of the stories, like Under One Roof, was trying to teach us a lesson based on what had happened in the story.
This book is very long, at least 700 pages in most editions. And the story can really drag along during extended sections of the book. However, you can find always expect to find fun in some unexpected places. Hence a metaphor about life (I guess)....
-Excerpt from The Good Soldier Svejk
In Singapore, there was famous sitcom in the 1990s called Under One Roof. From time to time, the family patriarch, Mr Tan Ah Teck (played by Moses Lim), will ramble about some obscure story set in the distant past in the southern province of China...
Well, around 70 years before this sitcom, there was a book called The Good Soldier Svejk. There are plenty of short stories in the book, lots of them, ranging from the ridiculously insane to the insanely boring. A lot of the stories, like Under One Roof, was trying to teach us a lesson based on what had happened in the story.
This book is very long, at least 700 pages in most editions. And the story can really drag along during extended sections of the book. However, you can find always expect to find fun in some unexpected places. Hence a metaphor about life (I guess)....
From BBC Radio 4 - Classical Serial:
Dramatisation by Christopher Reason of the satirical Czech novel by Jaroslav Hasek that charts the exploits of a WWI soldier.
When he seems to celebrate the death of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Svejk is arrested and so starts his progress through the ranks of the Austro-Hungarian army.
Dramatisation by Christopher Reason of the satirical Czech novel by Jaroslav Hasek that charts the exploits of a WWI soldier.
When he seems to celebrate the death of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Svejk is arrested and so starts his progress through the ranks of the Austro-Hungarian army.