1956 好兵帅克 [The Good Soldier Švejk]

Hašek, Jaroslav – 好兵帅克 [The Good Soldier Švejk]. Translated by Xiao Qian (萧乾). Beijing: Writers Publishing House (作家出版社), 1956. 8vo. 276 [1] pp.Generally regarded as the first mainland Chinese edition of Jaroslav Hašek's celebrated anti-war novel Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka (The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War). According to the translator's note, Xiao Qian translated the text from Paul Selver's English abridgement, The Good Soldier Schweik (London, 1939), rather than directly from the Czech original. Illustrated throughout with reproductions after Josef Lada's drawings, including numerous in-text illustrations and a portrait of Hašek. Cover design by You Geng (尤庚).Published by the prestigious Writers Publishing House in Beijing during the formative years of the People's Republic, this edition represents an important milestone in the reception of Czech literature in China. An attractive example of 1950s Chinese book production, preserving Lada's classic visual interpretation of Švejk for a Chinese readership. Original illustrated wrappers. VG condition. Light toning and general wear; crease to rear wrapper. A clean, well-preserved copy of a scarce early Chinese edition.