Jaroslav Hašek

Jaroslav Hašek (; 1883–1923) was a Czech writer, humorist, satirist, journalist, and bohemian. He first believed in anarchy, but then he became a communist. He was also a commissar of the Red Army against the Czechoslovak Legion. He is known for the novel The Fate of the Good Soldier Švejk during the World War. This novel was an unfinished collection stories about a soldier in World War I. It was a satire about how unskilled authority figures can be. The novel has been translated into 58 languages. It is the most translated novel in Czech literature.

 Works 
At first, Hašek only wrote stories about travel. He published these in magazines. He wrote most of his works while in Prague pubs.

His writings were based on his own experiences. However, in some cases, we do not know if some of what he wrote was true or poetic hyperbole.

In his life, he wrote about 1,200 short stories. Most of his short prose is found throughout many different magazines and newspapers. Almost all of his stories have been found and printed into books. Some of his work may be lost, such as "The History of the Ox." There are also many works that Hašek probably wrote, but is not confirmed.

His most famous text by far is the humorous novel The Fate of the Good Soldier Švejk during the World War. It has been translated into 58 languages. It has also been made into a movie or play. The novel is in four parts. Each part has a name: "In the Background (1921)", "At the Front (1922)", "Famous Spanking (1922)" and "Unfinished Continuation of the Famous Spanking" (1923). Hašek did not finish writing the book. Over time, the novel became very popular.

Some of Hašek's works have also been made into theatre performances.

 References 

 Further reading 

 The Good Soldier Švejk and His Fortunes in the World War, translated by Cecil Parrott, with original illustrations by Josef Lada
 The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War , translated by Zenny K. Sadlon
 The Red Commissar: Including further adventures of the good soldier Švejk and other stories
 Bachura Scandal and Other Stories and Sketches, translated by Alan Menhenett
 Biography by Cecil Parrott, The Bad Bohemian ().


 Other websites 

 Virtuální muzeum Jaroslava Haška a Josefa Švejka (Czech)
 A comprehensive site, mostly in Czech, but also partly in English
 Jaroslav Hasek – essays, biographies, memoirs, gallery of images (Russian)
 Radio Pytlik, biographer of Jaroslav Hašek, interview (Czech)
 Tales from Jaroslav, a site publishing previously untranslated short stories by Jaroslav Hašek (English)
 J. Hašek. Švejk Stands Against Italy (audio) (in English)

Category:1883 births
Category:1923 deaths
Category:Writers from Prague
Category:Czech journalists
Category:Czech novelists
Category:Anarchists
Category:Satirists