How a WWI satire set in the Austro Hungarian Empire can ring so true today illustrates the power of satire, the futility of war, and the often present hypocrisy of empires and leaders. Schweik (or Svejk, depending on the translation and the edition), a Czech recruited into the Austrian army, plays dumb to keep himself alive, but is actually often ingenius. His superiors can’t decide what he is or what to do with him as he bumbles around poking fun, making mistakes, telling stories, and saying “beg to report, sir” to anyone of authority.

The author, Jaroslav Hasek, A soldier in WWI, offers his commentary via the book’s narrator or Svejk directly. The story is written in 4 books, though my edition had only the first 3. Apparently the author planned for 6 total, but he died while writing the unfinished book 4. Early on in book 1, as people are rounded up for speaking out against the “Ferdinand business” or perhaps simply speaking an opinion in general and are thus imprisoned, one man wants nothing to do with the others, as he is merely there for “attempted robbery with violence.” He prefers to not join in the company of the far worse “conspirators.”

Chapter 11 begins with “Preparations for the slaughter of human beings have always been made in the name of God or of some alleged higher being which mankind has, in its imaginativeness, devised and created…The shambles of the World War would have been incomplete without the blessings of the clergy” (124-5). Sound familiar? Declare it a Godly war, declare God on our side, declare victory for the right religion as propaganda to sway the masses. It’s crazy to read these words from 1930 while watching our defense secretary hail a holy war in 2026.

Serving as the book’s symbol of religious corruption, drunkenness, and hypocrisy, Chaplain Katz answers Svejk’s question as to why Katz is a Chaplain if he doesn’t truly believe in the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary or even believe in God. Katz answers, “the government has decided that soldiers need God’s blessing before proceeding to die in battle, and as an army chaplain’s job is a decently paid occupation which doesn’t involve overwork, I find it a jolly sight better than running about on parade grounds or going into maneuvers…I’m fond of God, now give me a little wine.”

And on it goes with hilarious, witty, ingenious political satire. And a deadly serious anti-war message. It’s as relevant today as it was in the 1920s when Hasek started writing it as a serial story, years before its publication as a book. Apparently both Catch 22 and M*A*S*H were inspired by Hasek’s writing.

Not an easy book, but I’m glad it was chosen for my world lit book club. 4.5⭐️

Note: There are several translations of this novel—from 1930 to 2025—and quite a bit of controversy and competition surrounding each one: Selver, Parrott, and Sadlon, as well as Sadlon’s most recent centennial editions. I got caught up reading about the differences, the critiques, and the egos of translators. Fascinating stuff.