Map of Austria-Hungary in 1914. The itinerary of Švejk took place entirely within the borders of the Dual Monarchy.
"The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk" is a novel which contains a wealth of geographical references - either directly through the plot, in dialogues or in the authors own observations. Jaroslav Hašek was himself unusually well travelled and had a photographic memory of geographical (and other) details. It is evident that he put great emphasis on this: 8 of the 27 chapter headlines in Švejk contain place names. In addition to the geographical names, he often refers to public houses and other institutions, which in most cases, even today, can be located.
This web page will in due course contain a full overview of all the geographical references in the novel; from Prague in the introduction to Klimontów in the unfinished Book Four. Countries, cities, towns, villages, mountains, oceans, lakes, rivers, islands, buildings, taverns and any institution that can be located geographically, are included. The list is sorted according to the order in which the names appear through the novel. The chapter headlines are from Zenny K. Sadlon's recent translation and will in most cases differ from Cecil Parrott's version from 1973. Please note that close to 150 entries have yet to be added.
- The facts are mainly taken from Internet sources but cross-verified when possible
- The quotes in Czech are copied from the online version of Švejk provided by Jaroslav Šerák and contain links to the relevant chapter
- The toolbar has links for direct access to Wikipedia, Google maps, Google search, Jaroslav Šerák and Švejk online
The names are coloured according to their role in the novel, illustrated by these examples: Sanok as a location where the plot takes place, Dubno mentioned in the narrative, Zagreb as part of a dialogue, and Pakoměřice as mentioned in an anecdote.
The Good Soldier Švejk index of places mentioned in the novel (674)
Show all
I. In the rear
1. The good soldier Švejk acts to intervene in the world war (31)
14. Švejk as military servant to senior lieutenant Lukáš (59)
II. At the front
2. Švejk's budějovická anabasis (74)
3. Švejk's happenings in Királyhida (52)
5. From Bruck on the Leitha toward Sokal (31)
III. The famous thrashing
1. Across Magyaria (44)
2. In Budapest (42)
3. From Hatvan to the borders of Galicia (64)
4. Forward March! (51)
|
I. In the rear |
 | |
4. They threw Švejk out of the madhouse | |||
 | Blázinec |  | ||||
| ||||||
Blázinec was a mental hospital in Prague which is not explicitely located. We can still by near certainty conclude that the author means Kateřinky, an institution where he himself spent a few days in February 1911.
Role in the novel
Blázinec is referred to when Švejk is led to the psychiatric ward after a commision of psychiatrists conclude that Švejk is a "malingerer with a feeble mind". He might have spent several weeks here as he was only released on 29 July 1914, the day Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
Quote from the novel
Když později Švejk líčil život v blázinci, činil tak způsobem neobyčejného chvalořečení: „Vopravdu nevím, proč se ti blázni zlobějí, když je tam drží. Člověk tam může lézt nahej po podlaze, vejt jako šakal, zuřit a kousat. Jestli by to člověk udělal někde na promenádě, tak by se lidi divili, ale tam to patří k něčemu prachvobyčejnýmu. Je tam taková svoboda, vo kterej se ani socialistům nikdy nezdálo. ... read more
Also written:Das Irrenhaus de The Madhouse en Galehuset no
| England | | |||
| |||||
England was in 1914 centre of the British Empire, the largest colonial power the world has ever seen. The empire entered the war on August 4, through the alliance with France and Russia (The Entente), provoked by the German attack on Belgium. The declaration of war on Austria-Hungary followed on August 12.
There was little of direct fighting between British and Austro-Hungarian forces as the former mostly fought on the Western Front, in the Middle East, in the colonies and on the seas. By the end of 1914 the German colonies had been liquidated. The British Empire's economic power and its control of the seas were crucial to the outcome of the war.
England is today the largest and most populous of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, often shortened UK. England occupies the south-eastern part of the island Great Britain, and has land borders with Wales and Scotland.
Role in the novel
England is first mentioned indirectly at Blázinec where the inmates could pretend to be king of England without any repercussions. Later England appears through the propaganda expressions "Gott strafe England". Still there is very little connection with England in the novel - amongst the few references are London, Sir Edward Grey, Yorkshire (pig) and the magazine Country Life.
NB! King of England in 1914 was George V.
Quote from the novel
Člověk se tam může vydávat za pánaboha nebo za panenku Marii, nebo za papeže, nebo za anglickýho krále, nebo za císaře pána, nebo za sv. Václava, ačkoliv ten poslední byl pořád svázanej a nahej a ležel v isolaci. ... read more
Also written:Anglie cz Angleterre fr
| Krkonoše | | |||
| |||||
Krkonoše is a mountain range on the border between Poland and the Czech Republic, in 1914 the border between Austria-Hungary and Germany. The name is very old, was mentioned by Ptolemaios, and may be of indo-european origin. The interpretation of the name has been preserved, and the latin name was Gigantei montes. These are the highest mountains in the Czech Republic, Sněžka reaches 1602 metres.
Role in the novel
Krkonoše is mentioned when it is revealed that a professor at Blázinec claimed that the cradle of the gypsys was in these very mountains.
Quote from the novel
Taky jsem se tam sešel s několika profesory. Jeden s nich pořád chodil za mnou a vykládal, že kolíbka cikánů byla v Krkonoších, a ten druhý mně vysvětloval, že uvnitř zeměkoule je ještě jedna mnohem větší než ta vrchní. ... read more
Also written:Riesengebirge de Giant Mountains en Karkonosze pl
| Jaroměř | | |||
| |||||
Jaroměř is an old town near Hradec Králové in East Bohemia. The town has around 12,000 inhabitants.
Role in the novel
Jaroměř is mentioned when Švejk lists the songs he knows during his interrogation before being thrown out of Blázinec.
Quote from the novel
„Znám ještě první sloku z ,Kde domov můj’ a potom ,Jenerál Windischgrätz a vojenští páni od východu slunce vojnu započali’ a ještě pár takových národních písniček jako ,Zachovej nám, Hospodine’ a ,Když jsme táhli k Jaroměři’ a ,Tisíckrát pozdravujeme Tebe’...“ ... read more
| Salmova ulice | | |||||
| |||||||
Salmova ulice is the author's way of writing Salmovská ulice, a short and curved street in Nové Město, not far from U kalicha. At the time there was a police station at no. 20, serving Upper Nové Město. Head inspector in 1906 was Karel Fahoun. Why the author uses the name Salmova ulice is not known, presumably it was a colloquial expression. He knew this area too well to make any spelling mistake.
Role in the novel
Salmova ulice is first mentioned at the end of [I.4] when Švejk was sent to the police station in Salmovská after being thrown out of the madhouse. Here he encounters the brutal inspector Braun and shares the cell with a good citizen who has ended on a slippery slope after a company party. The date must be around 28 July 1914. Nearly all of [I.5] takes place at this police station.
Quote from the novel
Švejk prohlásil, že když někoho vyhazují s blázince, že ho nesmějí vyhodit bez oběda. Výtržnosti učinil konec vrátným přivolaný policejní strážník, který Švejka předvedl na policejní komisařství do Salmovy ulice. ... read more
Also written:Salmgasse de
|
|
I. In the rear |
| |
4. They threw Švejk out of the madhouse | |||
| © 2012 Jomar Hønsi | Last updated: 21/5-2013 | hits since 5/11-2009. | Statistics |
|
