The Good Soldier Švejk and His Fortunes in the World War

This is an old book and probably the most famous czech book for any foreign reader. There are also adaptations to cinema and TV. Jaroslav Hašek created the most famous czech book not knowing that. However he couldn't finish his work. He died dictating the chapters of The Good Soldier Švejk and His Fortunes in the World War from his bedroom. He had thought of six volumes but there are just four, and the last one in unfinished. He died at the age of 39. However Švejk remained. He is the idiot who exposes the ridiculous of war and militarism. The book is sarcastic and humourous. The Austrian Empire, the Catholic Church, the domination over Czechoslovakia, the war and the militars are the targets. Švejk is a simple person who was declared idiot and became a dealer of stolen dogs. At the beggining he is in Prague but soon he will be at the front, very enthusiatically. He is the anti-hero and through his adventures we are facing the ridiculous war where Czechs are fighting for an Empire that dominates them, the burocracy of an old empire, hipocrisy and corruption, military discipline... It is an huge satire and a very funny one. Švejk seems to be less idiot than all the soldiers and officers he meets, less stupid than all the high respectable people he will be in touch with. Švejk defeats the Empire by being simple. He is more wise than he might look.