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Hovudpersonen

The Good Soldier Švejk

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Švejk's journey on a of Austria-Hungary from 1914, showing the military districts of k.u.k. Heer. The entire plot of The Good Soldier Švejk is set on the territory of the former Dual Monarchy.

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.

Places index of countries, cities, villages, mountains, rivers, bridges ... (591) Show all
I. In the rear
II. At the front
III. The famous thrashing
Index Back Forward I. In the rear Hovudpersonen

8. Švejk as a malingerer

Piešťanynn flag
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piestany.jpg

Hašek's post-card from Piešťany, 1902

Piešťany is mentioned by doctor Doctor Grünstein when he informs Švejk that healing his rheumatism here at the military hospital here (in Prague) would be much quicker than at Piešťany.

Background

Piešťany is a spa in western Slovakia known for its treatment of rheumatism. Until 1920 it was part of Hungary, like the rest of Slovakia.

Jaroslav Hašek visited the place himself; on 28 September 1902 he sent a post-card from here to his cousin Marie. He visited together with Viktor Janota, Ján Čulen and Štefan Čulen.

Military

In accordance with the recruitment districts infantrymen from Piešťany were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 72 (Pozsony) or Honvédinfanterieregiment Nr. 13 (Pozsony).

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.8] „A celé noci nemůže spát, není-liž pravda? Rheuma je velice nebezpečná, bolestná a těžká nemoc. My už tady máme s rheumatiky dobré zkušenosti. Naprostá dieta a jiný náš způsob léčení se velice dobře osvědčil. Budete zde dřív zdravější než v Píšťanech a mašírovat budete na posice, jen se za vámi zapráší.“

Sources: Radko Pytlík, Václav Menger, Jaroslav Šerák, LA PNP

Also written:Pišťany Hašek Pistyan de Pöstyén hu

Hradčanynn flag
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hradcany.jpg

Hradčany in the background, seen from Staré město

Hradčany is mentioned 8 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Hradčany is where the plot in this and the next chapter takes place. Švejk is first placed in the sick-bay of Posádková věznice to get a cure for his rheumatism, thereafter locked up in the very prison, suspected of malingering. Švejk also appears in other places at Hardčany: k.u.k. Militärgericht Prag, Vězeňské kaple and probably Vojenská nemocnice Hradčany.

Background

Hradčany is a cadastral district in Prague which includes the castle area. This is where the offices of the president, St. Vitus Cathedral and many other landmarks are located. Hradčany is situated on a hill west of the Vltava and borders Dejvice, Strahov and Malá Strana. In 1914 the district was equivalent to Praha IV.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

In Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí the miltary court is also part of the plot and to a higher degree than in the novel. Also here an auditor handles Švejk's case but he is not named. The narrator also explains how the Austro-Hungarian military judiciary works in general.[1]

V duchu opustil hradčanský vojenský soud a mysl jeho zaletěla na Vinohrady do malého krámku, svezla se po obraze Františka Josefa a vyhledala pod starou postelí dvě morčata. Švejk k smrti rád pěstoval morčata. A jich osud byl také jedinou chmurou zde.

Demography

According to the 1910 census Hradčany had 5,412 inhabitants of which 4,911 (90 per cent) reported that they used Czech in their daily speech.

Source:Seznam míst v království Českém(1913)

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.8] V duchu opustil hradčanský vojenský soud a mysl jeho zaletěla na Vinohrady do malého krámku, svezla se po obraze Františka Josefa a vyhledala pod starou postelí dvě morčata. Švejk k smrti rád pěstoval morčata. A jich osud byl také jedinou chmurou zde.
[I.8] Konečně poptávkou na policejním ředitelství zjištěno bylo, že to byl Švejk, a dále bylo už lehké pátrat. Baronka von Botzenheim vzala s sebou společnici a komorníka s košem a jeli na Hradčany.

Also written:Hradschin de

References
1Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetíJaroslav Hašek1917
Siamnn flag
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siam.png

Siam is mentioned indirectly through the term Siam elephant, used as a word of abuse against Švejk. See Vojenská nemocnice Hradčany.

Background

Siam is the former name of Thailand or roughly the area that corresponds to the modern state. Siam was never colonised but lost some territory to European imperial powers in the 19th century. The capital was always Bangkok.

The term Siam elephant mostly refers to white (albino) animals that were regarded as holy. It was even on the flag of Siam until 1916. Thus Siam elephant is not an animal breed.

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.8] „Poslušně hlásím, že já vůbec nemyslím.“ „Himmeldonnerwetter,“ hulákal jeden z členů komise, břinkaje šavlí, „tak von vůbec nemyslí. Pročpak, vy jeden siamskej slone, nemyslíte?“
Literature
Index Back Forward I. In the rear Hovudpersonen

8. Švejk as a malingerer


© 2008 - 2024 Jomar Hønsi Last updated: 16.3.2024