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.
IV. The famous thrashing continued | |||
2. Spiritual consolation |
Zlíchov | |||||
|
Zlíchov is pulled into the story by Švejk when he tells Feldkurat Martinec he knows smoke like the distillery in Zlíchov.
Background
Zlíchov is a small district of Prague, situated on the western bank of the Vltava south of Smíchov. Švejk refers to the distillery (lihovar) shown on the picture.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.2] „To se divím,“ řekl Švejk. „Znal jsem mnoho feldkurátů a ti kouřili jako špirituska na Zlíchově. Feldkuráta si vůbec nemůžu představit, aby nekouřil a nepil.
Nový Jičín | |||||
|
Nový Jičín is mentioned because Feldkurat Martinec tells Švejk that he is from this area.
Background
Nový Jičín is a town in north-eastern Moravia, 30 km south of Ostrava. The town has 27,000 inhabitants and the historical centre is an urban preservation area.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.2] Vodkuďpak sou, pane feldkurát?“ „Od Nového Jičína,“ skleslým hlasem ozval se c. k. dp. Martinec.
Also written:Neutitschein de
Opatovická ulice | |||||
|
Opatovická ulice is a street that Švejk has lived in he tells Feldkurat Martinec. This is connected to the anecdote about porter Faustýn.
Background
Opatovická ulice is a street in Nové město, perpendicular to Křemencová ulice.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.2] Když jsem bydlel v Opatovickej ulici, tak jsem tam měl jednoho kamaráda, Faustýna, vrátnýho z hotelu.
Křemencová ulice | |||||
|
Křemencová ulice is a street that Švejk has lived in he tells Feldkurat Martinec. This is connected to the anecdote about porter Faustýn.
Background
Křemencová ulice is a street in Praha II., perpendicular to Opatovická ulice. The famous pub U Fleků is situated in this street.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.2] Von byl totiž ten pan Faustýn úplně vožralej a zapomněl, že já bydlím v Opatovickej ulici docela v nízkém přízemí, a ne ve třetím patře jako před rokem, když jsem bydlel v Křemencovej ulici a von ke mně chodil na návštěvu.“
IV. The famous thrashing continued | |||
2. Spiritual consolation |
© 2008 - 2024 Jomar Hønsi | Last updated: 16.3.2024 |