The Good Soldier Svejk

By: Jaroslav Hasek

Narrated by: David Horovitch

Jaroslav Hasek's world-famous satirical farce The Good Soldier Svejk has been translated into over 60 languages, and is one of the best-known Czech works ever published.

A soldier in the First World War who never actually sees any combat, Josef Å vejk is the awkward protagonist - and none of the other characters can quite decide whether his bumbling efforts to get to the front are genuine or not. Often portrayed as one of the first anti-war novels, Hasek's classic satire is a tour-de-force of modernist writing, influencing later writers such as Hemingway, Faulkner and Joseph Heller.

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If you need a good laugh

What did you love best about The Good Soldier Svejk?

Svejk is the embodiment of Czech passive resistance to foreign domination, in this case Austro-Hungarian, and later, Russian Bolsheviks. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether he's really a "patent idiot" as he proudly proclaims, or a conniving saboteur who can wreck the simplest orders with creative application of cheerful obedience coupled with elastic morality.

But Svejk the idiot seems positively sensible when confronted with the Imperial war machine, which even without Svejk's help manages to sabotage its own greatness through equally imbecilic acts of obedience.

If you're feeling a bit oppressed by some misbegotten authority or asinine bureacracy, this book is for you. The Czechs have mastered the art of patient suffering, so the book is surprisingly lighthearted given the weight of its content. You'll feel a lot better afterwards.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Good Soldier Svejk?

Svejk helpfully offers to haul a load of books from brigade office and deliver them to the staff. When the train is called to leave midway through the task, Svejk commits a blunder so serious that even he is not authorized to know what he has done.

Who was the most memorable character of The Good Soldier Svejk and why?

Svejk of course is the centerpiece of the novel. Second after that is probably poor Lieutenant Lukaš, a career officer and lothario who fails on numerous occasions to rid himself of Svejk.

Any additional comments?

The audiobook is "abridged" from the original without serious loss. There is a certain amount of ribald activity and some really eloquent cursing (how many ways are there to call a soldier a "bastard"?), delivered in a British comedic style that would be at home in a Monty Python.

Wickedly entertaining

The narration is fantastic and not to be missed the different characters come to life with David’s different voices.
The stories are entertaining and funny, well worth the time of this lighthearted classic of the war.
You never know if Svejk is an idiot or knows all the time what is going on and just trying to mess things up.
I found this book very entertaining.

One of a kind satire

David Horovitch has done an extraordinary job of narration, adapting his voice for the various characters. I first read Schweik more than 50 years ago and found the audio version a wonderful reminder and delight at this rare satire.

David Evan Glasser

lives up to its reputation

I had been wanting to read this book for decades. Ever page is rich with humor, absurdism, and biting sarcasm with regard to war, modern life, and bureaucracy. In its genre, I have not read a better book.

I know this is only one translation and I've read that there is another that is supposed to be better. I have only this to go on and I loved it. Hasek wrote more tales of <i>The Good Soldier Svejk</i>, but since his adventures appear to go on and on, I started with his first, shorter book, which gave me a good introduction.

comedy clasics

It is one of the best comedy books ever written.