The Secret History of my Sojourn in Russia

Jaroslav HaSek (1883-1923) is one of the most recognised Czech writers. He is the author of Osudy dobrého vojáka svejka za svetové války [The Adventures of the Good Soldier svejk in the World War, 1921/23]. Left unfinished at his death, it is one of the greatest humorous novels in world literature, centring on the comings and goings of Josef svejk, dog thief, falsifier of pedigrees, and generally unflappable, beer-soaked goodfellow from Prague. Innocent to the point of pathology, svejk keeps the reader in a state of uncertainty. Is he an idiot, or the smartest schemer to grace the earth? Before the war, HaSek made his living as a writer of feuilletons for various satirical magazines, and as a reporter who was not above making up interesting stories to boost readership. His inventions of animals for the naturalist periodical Animal World, including an advertisement for werewolves as companions that can replace the dog in all things are the stuff of legend. He also once ran for political office, as a candidate of the farcical Party of Moderate Progress within the Bounds of the Law. Called to the colours at the outbreak of the First World War, he took the first occasion to cross the lines into voluntary Russian captivity - despite having been recommended for a medal of valour while serving with the Austrian army. His Russian sojourn lasted six years. During his time in Sovietising Russia, he joined the Red Army and the Communist Party. For a while he served as one of the town commandants of the small Siberian city of Bugulma. His experiences during that period of his life resulted in nine of the stories included in this volume, which he began publishing after his return to Czechoslovakia in 1920. Jaroslav HaSek wrote some 1,200 short stories and articles during his short life. The Secret History of My Sojourn in Russia presents the reader with 52 of the most entertaining, and chilling, examples of his Russian period, containing both humorous fiction and deadly serious propaganda.