A remarkable discovery has come to light in Prague: previously unknown manuscripts of Jaroslav Hašek’s novel “The Good Soldier Švejk” have been uncovered in the archives of the Museum of Czech Literature.

The find includes sections of the novel that the author wrote or dictated before his death in 1923, shedding fresh light on the creation of one of the most translated works in Czech literary history.

The material surfaced during the cataloguing of the estate of Karel Synek, Hašek’s publisher, whose personal and professional documents are preserved at the museum’s Literary Archive.

Among them were fragments of Part II and extensive manuscripts from Part III and Part IV of The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War.

Michal Stehlík, director of the Museum of Czech Literature (PNP), confirmed the discovery in a statement posted on X. According to him, the documents will undergo restoration and digitization before being made available to researchers.

Objev ve fondech Literárního archivu Památníku národního písemnictví!
Skoro 90 let byla bez povšimnutí uložena větší část rukopisu Osudů dobrého vojáka Švejka za světové války u dvorního nakladatele Jaroslava Haška – Adolfa a posléze Karla Synka.
Materiál čítající fragment II.… pic.twitter.com/CVApYpLr7K

— Michal Stehlík (@MichalStehlik) August 28, 2025

The first chance for the public to see part of this unique find will come during the Triangl Festival on September 13, when the museum will exhibit selections from the manuscripts.

First published in the early 1920s, Hašek’s satirical masterpiece follows the hapless yet oddly resourceful soldier Josef Švejk as he navigates the absurdities of military bureaucracy and the chaos of the First World War.

Its humor and critique of authority turned the novel into a classic not only of Czech literature but of world satire.

The book has inspired generations of adaptations, from stage plays and television series to film. The most renowned remains Karel Steklý’s 1956 film version starring Rudolf Hrušínský.

A new cinematic adaptation has been in preparation for years by director Bohdan Sláma, though its release date has yet to be announced.

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