Hasek was a humorist and satirist of rare order long before he wrote his celebrated novel, The Good Soldier Schweik. This selection of 32 pre-1914 stories of Prague life-most were translated into English for the first time in this collection-revels in the twisted logic of politics and bureaucracy in the Czech capital which was also an Austrian provincial city.
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From Publishers Weekly
Each of the 32 brief satirical tales in this collection (24 of which are translated into English for the first time here) has an ending that in one way or another comments on the twisted logic of politics and bureaucracy: a thief is found guilty at a public trial with little evidence and passes gas in the courtroom as his final statement; the Young Czech party turns an expensive electoral defeat into a ``moral victory'' with a simple newspaper article; an infantryman with an absurdly large head dies while waiting to receive a cap in the correct size; an Austrian whose left kidney has been replaced by a pig's cannot return home from a foreign country because the importation of pigs is illegal. Many of these exhibit cynicism towards the press as well, reflecting Hasek's checkered career as a journalist, particularly as a none-too-factual editor of Animal World. Anecdotes about key chapters in the life of this Prague native are laid out in a juicy introduction by Menhennet, who teaches Austrian/Czech history at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The memory of a man who was both a prankster and an anarchist is well-served by this humorous and politically astute book.
Copyright 1992 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Czech
Original Language: Czech
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
LaughterAsAPanaceumForStupidity-AreYouThere?,
By gienek (bornPoland,livingInCanadaVancouver-86) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Bachura Scandal and Other Stories and Sketches (Paperback)
(for the one who read this: English is NOT my lan-guage, so it's not easy for me to express myself)Have You Read "The Good Soldier Shveyk And His Fortunes During The World War"? No? Well, you,re missing A LOT! First of all, this book is being called "The Bible Of Anarchy" by some, I call it "The Bible Of Survival" (both psychological and in the real life). Even if I had 10.000 words for my disposal it will never be enough to elaborate why HASEK'S books are SO GREAT. Just think how stupid sometimes you are (me too), how stupid the world around you is (goverments,regulations,"traditions",hartred,and so on) and you will see HOW GREAT HASEK WAS AS AN OBSERVER, as an comentator of everyday's life, as an critic of Authorities - a brillant writer. A personal note: When I was 19 I handed a diploma to myself in front of the mirror for reading "Soldier Shveyk" for the 17th time. I've been reading "Shveyk" twice a year EVERY YEAR and I owe it to this book that I'm still sane and alive after all I've been through. I'm 49 now. Still alive, breathing and kicking. And - believe me - the live IS easier with HASEK. Just read it and allow yourself to think... Gienek
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