The Good Soldier Švejk

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The Good Soldier Švejk (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)

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Josef Švejk (YOH-sehf shvayk), a Czech recruited to serve in the Austrian army during World War I. Švejk’s military experience is a series of mishaps that repeatedly land him in jail, yet Švejk avoids serious punishment, even execution, through the same bizarre behaviors that get him into trouble. Švejk is a deceptively complex character, appearing both imbecilic and ingenious, as well as both honest and deceitful. When confronted by bureaucratic red tape and the harsh, often unreasonable conditions in the army, Švejk foils the establishment....

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