The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk (mostly known as The Good Soldier Švejk) by Jaroslav Hašek is a novel that contains a wealth of geographical references - either directly through the plot, in dialogues or in the author's narrative. Hašek was himself unusually well travelled and had a photographic memory of geographical (and other) details. It is evident that he put a lot of emphasis on geography: Eight of the 27 chapter headlines in the novel contain geographical names.
This web site 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 Part Four. Continents, states (also defunct), cities, market squares, city gates, regions, districts, towns, villages, mountains, mountain passes, oceans, lakes, rivers, caves, channels, islands, streets, parks and bridges are included.
The list is sorted according to the order in which the names appear in the novel. The chapter headlines are from Zenny Sadlon's recent translation (1999-2008) and will in most cases differ from Cecil Parrott's translation from 1973.
The quotes in Czech are copied from the on-line version of The Good Soldier 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, svejkmuseum.cz and the novel on-line.
The names are coloured according to their role in the novel, illustrated by these examples: Sanok a location where the plot takes place, Dubno mentioned in the narrative, Zagreb part of a dialogue, and Pakoměřice mentioned in an anecdote.
I. In the rear | |||
6. Švejk at home again, having broken through the vicious circle |
Příčná ulice | |||||
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Příčná ulice is mentioned by Mrs. Palivcová who could tell Švejk that an upholsterer from there was the only one who had latched on to detective Bretschneider's bait since Švejk's and pubkeeper Palivec's arrest. The street later appears in the anecdote about bookbinder Božetěch in [IV.1].
Background
Příčná ulice is a very short street Nové město slightly east of Karlovo náměstí. It connects Žitna ulice and Navrátilova ulice (then Hopfenstockova ulice).
According to the address book from 1910 there was no upholsterer in this street, the closest were a few in Žitná ulice.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.6] Za tu celou dobu dostal na lep jen čalouníka z Příčné ulice.
Also written:Quergasse de
Literature
Račiněves | ||||||
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Račiněves is briefly mentioned in an advert Švejk reads aloud at U kalicha to divert detective Bretschneider's attention. See Straškov.
Background
Račiněves is a village by Roudnice nad Labem, 47 km north of Prague. As correctly pointed out in The Good Soldier Švejk it had a post office.
Demography
According to the 1910 census Račiněves had 840 inhabitants of which 840 (100 per cent) reported that they used Czech in their daily speech. The judicial district was okres Roudnice, administratively it reported to hejtmanství Roudnice.
Source:Seznam míst v království Českém(1913)
Military
In accordance with the recruitment districts infantrymen from Račiněves were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 42 (Leitmeritz) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 10 (JungbuzlU).
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.6] Švejk sňal s věšáku nějaké noviny a prohlížeje si zadní stranu inserátů, ozval se: „Tak vida, tenhle Čimpera v Straškově č. 5, p. Račiněves, prodá hospodářství s třinácti korci vlastních polí, škola a dráha na místě.“
Literature
Straškov | ||||||
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Straškov is briefly mentioned in an advert from a certain Čimpera that Švejk reads aloud at U kalicha in order to distract detective Bretschneider. See Račiněves.
Background
Straškov is a village by Roudnice nad Labem, 47 km north of Prague. The nearby mountain Říp is according to legend the first place in Bohemia where arriving Czechs settled.
It is correctly pointed out in The Good Soldier Švejk that the post office was in Račiněves and that Straškov itself had a railway station and a school.
Demography
According to the 1910 census Straškov had 509 inhabitants of which 509 (100 per cent) reported that they used Czech in their daily speech. The judicial district was okres Roudnice, administratively it reported to hejtmanství Roudnice.
Source:Seznam míst v království Českém(1913)
Military
In accordance with the recruitment districts infantrymen from Straškov were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 42 (Leitmeritz) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 10 (JungbuzlU).
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.6] Švejk sňal s věšáku nějaké noviny a prohlížeje si zadní stranu inserátů, ozval se: „Tak vida, tenhle Čimpera v Straškově č. 5, p. Račiněves, prodá hospodářství s třinácti korci vlastních polí, škola a dráha na místě.“
Literature
Dejvice | |||||
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Dejvice appears when Švejk tells detective Bretschneider that he is aware of a toothless dog there which he can provide him with. In [II.3] it is mentioned in connection with bricklayer Mlíčko.
Background
Dejvice is an urban area and cadastral district in western Prague between the centre and the airport. It is administratively part of Prague 6, and is regarded as one of the more exclusive parts of the capital. The district became part of Prague in 1922 and Vítězné náměstí is regarded its focal point.
In 1913 Dejvice was still a separate administrative unit, although it was part of the Prague conurbation.
Demography
According to the 1910 census Dejvice had 6,582 inhabitants of which 6,274 (95 per cent) reported that they used Czech in their daily speech. The judicial district was okres Smíchov, administratively it reported to hejtmanství Smíchov.
Source:Seznam míst v království Českém(1913)
Military
In accordance with the recruitment districts infantrymen from Dejvice were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 (Prag) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 8 (Prag).
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.6] „Já bych chtěl špice,“ s klidnou umírněností řekl Bretschneider, „špice, kterej by nekousal.“ „Přejete si tedy bezzubého špice?“ otázal se Švejk, „vím o jednom. Má ho jeden hostinský v Dejvicích.“
[II.3] "Von mně připomíná s těma drobnejma, který nemá", prohodil Švejk, "že je jako nějaký Mlíčko, zedník z Dejvic, ten taky neměl tak dlouho drobný, až se zasekal po krk a byl zavřenej pro podvod. Prožral velký a neměl drobný."
Great St Bernard Pass | |||||
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Great St Bernard Pass is mentioned indirectly through the dog breed St Bernard (or Bernardiner) that has its name from the well known mountain pass in the Alps.
The dog breed first appears in [I.6] when Švejk avoids detective Bretschneider's attempts to trick him into compromising himself. This he duly achieves by giving totally off-topic responses, in this case a story about a Bernardiner puppet. In the same chapter Mrs. Müllerová reveals that she had a visit from the police when Švejk sat arrested and a Bernardiner bit a policeman before it ran away.
Later in the novel the dog breed appears several times, included in [I.14] during a conversation with Oberleutnant Lukáš and also during the preparation of the dog theft. Factory owner factory owner Vydra owned a Bernardiner that Blahník stole.
Background
Great St Bernard Pass is a mountain pass in the western Alps that has given name to the mentioned dog bread. The highest point is 2,469 metres above sea level and the pass connects Switzerland and Italy. It is named after Bernard of Aosta, better known as Saint Bernhard.
The dog breed
The St.Bernhard dogs are considered the largest of all dog breeds and may weight up to one hundred kilo and reach a height of one metre. It was originally bred by the sanctuary at Great St Bernard Pass and used for rescue duties in the mountains. One hundred years ago the dogs were much smaller than today, but because of the increased weight they are not longer suitable as avalanche- and rescue dogs.
Hašek and St.Bernhard dogs
At the time when Jaroslav Hašek edited the magazine Svět zvířat, the St Bernard dog appeared repeatedly on its pages, in text and photos. Further Václav Menger writes that Hašek once wrote an invented story about such a dog in České slovo, much to the annoyance of the dog's owner, the hotel proprietor Karel Černý from Černošice. The latter even appeared in the editorial offices in an agitated mood, with his enormous dog on a lead!
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.6] Švejk prohlásil, že neměl se státem co dělat, ale že jednou měl na ošetřování slabé štěně bernardýna, které krmil vojenskými suchary, a že také chcíplo.
[I.6] Pak šla stlát postel, neobyčejně pečlivě uváděla všechno do pořádku a vrátivši se ke Švejkovi do kuchyně se zaslzeným zrakem poznamenala: „Ty dvě štěňata, milostpane, co jsme měly na dvoře, chcíply. A ten bernardýn, ten nám utek, když tady dělali domovní prohlídku.“
[I.14.3] Kam se na něj hrabe takovej pitomej bernardýn. Je ještě chytřejší než foxteriér. Já jsem znal jednoho...
[I.14.6] „Pohostím ho hovězíma,“ rozhodl se Blahník, „na ty jsem už dostal bernardýna továrníka Vydry, náramně věrný zvíře. Zejtra ti psa přivedu v pořádku.“
Also written:Velký Svatobernardský průsmyk cz Grosser St. Bernhard de Col du Grand St-Bernard fr Colle del Gran San Bernardo it
Literature
Brno | |||||
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Brno is mentioned by Mrs. Müllerová when she tells Švejk about the police interrogation after the latter had been arrested by detective Bretschneider. She was asked by the police if she had received money from abroad, and she said: "Yes, from Brno".
The city is mentioned only once more, in connection with Feldkurat Matyáš who died there without having paid off his debts.
Background
Brno is the second largest city of Czechia with a population of around 380,000. The city has a strong industrial tradition is also seat of the country's most important legal institutions.
In 1914 Brno was the capital of Moravia, but the city was much smaller than today, also in area. At the time a majoriy of the 123,000 inhabitants was German (this number also includes the 15,000 Jews).
Hašek in Brno
Jaroslav Hašek visited Brno in 1902 on his way back from a trip to Slovakia. He wrote a post-card from here, addressed to his cousin Marie who at the time lived in Jaroměř. The card is also signed by Viktor Janota and Jan Čulen.
The good soldier Švejk in captivity
In Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí the city is briefly mentioned in connection with a German Lehrerinnenverein and also the street Františkova ulice.[1]
Německá učitelka z 'lehrerinnenvereinu' v Brně jednoho rána převlékla se do vojenské uniformy, sekala šavli do výkladních skříní po ulici Františkově a hulákala: "Gott strafe England!"
Demography
According to the 1910 census Brno had 125 737 inhabitants.
Military
In accordance with the recruitment districts infantrymen from Brno were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 8 (Brünn) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 14 (Brünn).
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.6] Německá učitelka z 'lehrerinnenvereinu' v Brně jednoho rána převlékla se do vojenské uniformy, sekala šavli do výkladních skříní po ulici Františkově a hulákala: "Gott strafe England!"
[I.6] Se mnou také dělali výslech, kdo k nám chodí, jestli nedostáváme nějaké peníze z ciziny, a potom dělali narážky, že jsem hloupá, když jsem jim řekla, že peníze z ciziny chodějí jen zřídka, posledně od toho pana řídícího z Brna ta záloha šedesát korun na angorskou kočku, kterou jste inseroval v Národní politice a místo toho jste mu poslal v bedničce od datlí to slepé štěňátko foxteriéra.
[I.13] „Vidíte: Polní kurát Matyáš v Brně, zemřel v isolační nemocnici před týdnem. Já bych si rval vlasy. Nezaplatil mně 1800 korun, a jde do cholerového baráku zaopatřovat nějakého člověka, po kterém mu nic nebylo.“
[II.4] V ten samej den byl v Brně...
Also written:Brünn de
Literature
1 | Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí | 1917 |
Angora | ||||||
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Angora is here used as an adjective to denote a breed of cats, Angora. The cat race is mentioned several times in the novel.
It first appears when Mrs. Müllerová tells Švejk that she told the police that he had received for cat that he had advertised in Národní politika. The money were from "abroad", from a businessman in Brno.
The second cat [I.14] belonged to senior Oberleutnant Lukáš and takes part in the plot directly. It devours his canary bird after Švejk had the idea to let the cat and the bird together "to get used to each other". The cat soon after ended its life by eating shoe polish [I.15].
Background
Angora is the historical name of Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Ankara is the second largest city in the country and has been capital since 1923. The Angora cat is a breed of domestic cats originating from central Asia Minor.
Pictures of Angora-cats appeared on the pages of the animal magazine Svět zvířat during the time Jaroslav Hašek edited the periodical (1909-1910). At the same time he wrote a story about the Angora tomcat Bobeš, a cat that could talk. The story's title was O domýšlivém kocouru Bobešovi (About the vain tomcat Bobeš) and was printed in Svět zvířat on 1 March 1910.
The Angora Cat also appears in altogether six (or more) pre-war stories. One of them is Má drahá přitelkyně Julča (My dear friend Julie) that was printed in three issues of Zlatá Praha in April/May 1915. This story is also set during Hašek's time as animal trader at Košíře and contains themes known from the novel (Brehm and Klamovka are mentioned). The story O nejošklivějším psu Balabánovi (Svět zvířat, 1913) also contains a reference to an Angora cat. Another talking cat Markus features in another story, there is also a cat Lili in the story about Professor Axamit. See links below for a full list.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.6] Se mnou také dělali výslech, kdo k nám chodí, jestli nedostáváme nějaké peníze z ciziny, a potom dělali narážky, že jsem hloupá, když jsem jim řekla, že peníze z ciziny chodějí jen zřídka, posledně od toho pana řídícího z Brna ta záloha šedesát korun na angorskou kočku, kterou jste inseroval v Národní politice a místo toho jste mu poslal v bedničce od datlí to slepé štěňátko foxteriéra.
[I.14.3] Neobyčejně rád měl zvířata. Měl harckého kanárka, angorskou kočku a stájového pinče.
[I.14.3] A angorská kočka si opět vlezla pod pohovku.
[I.15] „Poslušně hlásím, pane obrlajtnant, že jste přišel o kočku. Sežrala krém na boty a dovolila si chcípnout. Hodil jsem ji do sklepa, ale do vedlejšího. Takovou hodnou a hezkou angorskou kočku už nenajdete.“
Literature
- O domýšlivém kocouru BobešoviJaroslav Hašek1.3.1910
- Vláda je vinnáJaroslav Hašek10.7.1911
- Pan Mařínek má strach před mobilizacíJaroslav Hašek9.12.1912
- O nejošklivějším psu BalabánoviJaroslav Hašek15.4.1913
- Podivuhodné dobrodružství kocoura MarkuseJaroslav Hašek6.2.1914
- Má drahá přitelkyně JulčaJaroslav Hašek23.4, 30.4, 7.5.1914
Leonberg | |||||
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Leonberg is mentioned indirectly through the dog breed Leonberger when Švejk tells detective Bretschneider that he once sold a Leonberger to an anarchist. for 100 crowns.
Background
Leonberg is a town in Swabia that gave its name to the mentioned do breed. This is a very large and fury dog breed, that appeared through breeding in 19th century. It can weigh up to 80 kilos.
Leonberger-dogs are written about in Svět zvířat at the time when Jaroslav Hašek was editor of this weekly. The author had good knowledge of dog-breeding, something that is reflected in the many references to dogs throughout the novel and otherwise in his literary output.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.6] Když měli každý pátou čtvrtku, prohlásil se Bretschneider za anarchistu a ptal se Švejka, do které organisace se má dát zapsat. Švejk řekl, že si jednou jeden anarchista koupil od něho leonbergera za sto korun a že mu zůstal poslední splátku dlužen.
Literature
Scotland | |||||
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Scotland is mentioned indirectly through the dog breed Scottish sheepdog when the author describes Švejk's dog deals with detective Kalous.
Background
Scotland is a nation occupying the nortern part of the island Great Britain that since 1707 has been in a union with England. As part of the United Kingdom, Scottish forces contributed during World War I.
The Scottish sheepdog (border collie) was mentioned in the late 19th century. It is regarded the worlds most popular shepherd's dog.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.6] Pak tam šel koupit psa detektiv Kalous a vrátil se s vyjevenou potvorou, připomínající hyenu skvrnitou, s hřívou skotského ovčáka, a v položkách tajného fondu přibyla nová: D...90 K.
Also written:Skotsko cz Schottland de
Literature
I. In the rear | |||
6. Švejk at home again, having broken through the vicious circle |
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