The Good Soldier Švejk

From Karlín to Bratislava in 365 days

LA-PNP,29.12.1921

Tribuna,30.12.1921

This play, entitled Z Karlína do Bratislavy za 365 dní in the original, was written in 1921, presumably towards the end of the year. It is a farce about a circuitous journey from Prague to Bratislava aboard the steamer Lanna, travelling via Europe's waterways. The work was first advertised in Tribuna[b], Prager Presse and Rudé právo on 30 December 1921, with the credited authors listed, literally, as follows: E.E. Kisch, Rossenvelt pres. U.S.A., J. Hašek, Jules Werenes, E.A. Longen. It was staged at Adria, the same theatre that had hosted Emil Artur Longen's theatrical version of The Good Soldier Švejk on 1 November 1921, the first production of its kind. In later adverts, “Werenes” and “Rossenvelt” were omitted, for obvious reasons.

The manuscript shows that the script was approved by the police on 29 December 1921 and that the censors raised some objections. Nevertheless, it underwent no major changes. Emil Artur Longen, Jaroslav Hašek and Egon Erwin Kisch are listed as the authors[a].

Two familiar names from The Good Soldier Švejk feature prominently: Offiziersdiener Mikulášek and pubkeeper Rampa. They appear in the novel at roughly the same time as the play was written. Here, Mikulášek is a stoker and the central character, while Rampa is portrayed much as he is in the novel. In one scene, Mikulášek gets drunk in Rampa's pub.

Literature

• Z Karlína do Bratislavy parníkem Lanna 8 za 365 dní, E.E. Kisch - Jaroslav Hašek - E.A. Longen,29.12.1921 [a]
• Divadélko Adria, Tribuna,30.12.1921 [b]
• Die Reise um Europa in 365 Tagen, Egon Erwin Kisch - Jaroslav Hašek,1921