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The Good Soldier Švejk (pron.: /ˈʃveɪk/; Czech: [ˈʃvɛjk]), also spelled Schweik or Schwejk, is the abbreviated title of an unfinished satirical/dark comedy novel by Jaroslav Hašek. It was illustrated by Josef Lada and recently also by Petr Urban. The original Czech title of the work is Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka za světové války, literally The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War. He has become the Czech national personification.
Hašek originally intended Švejk to cover a total of six volumes, but had completed only three (and started on the fourth) upon his death from heart failure on January 3, 1923. Following Hašek's death journalist Karel Vaňek was asked by the publisher Adolf Synek to complete the unfinished novel. This continuation was released as Švejk in Russian Captivity and Revolution ("Švejk v Ruském Zajetí a Revoluci")
