In the centre of Przemyśl, the 'Good Soldier Švejk' sits on an ammunition box, pipe in one hand, and his favourite beer mug in the other. Švejk is the iconic main character of the famous Czech novel 'The Good Soldier Švejk' - a dark satirical comedy by Jaroslav Hašek that tells the story of a simple-minded, but good-humoured soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I. In middle-age and naively enthusiastic to be in the infantry, Švejk's comedic, bumbling ineptitude is an amusing commentary on the futility and absurdity of war. Despite being unfinished, 'Švejk' was published in 1921-1923 and became the most-translated Czech novel of all time, influencing later works like Joseph Heller's Catch-22 and the American television show M*A*S*H.
photo: Grzegorz Karnas
In the novel, Švejk's travels bring him to Przemyśl, hence this popular monument created by local sculptor Jacek Szpak, which was unveiled in 2008.
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