The Man Without a Transit Pass - Jaroslav Hasek

The Man Without a Transit Pass by Jaroslav Hasek, translated by Dustin Stalnaker / ISBN 9798987562604 / 148-page paperback, published by Paradise editions

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Gathering work from across Jaroslav Hašek’s brief but prolific career, this collection showcases the outrageous wit and biting social commentary that made him the most popular Czech writer of all time. Much like his beloved novel The Good Soldier Švejk, these sixteen tales—previously unavailable in English—are populated with unforgettable characters: various cranks, conmen, and secret geniuses. The Man Without a Transit Pass further solidifies Hašek’s place as one of the 20th century’s greatest satirists.

Jaroslav Hašek (1883–1923) was a Czech humorist, satirist, and journalist. He was beloved—and infamous—for his bohemian lifestyle, practical jokes, and radical politics. During his short life, he wrote copiously and traveled on foot throughout Central and Eastern Europe, frequently landing in trouble with the authorities. He is best known for The Good Soldier Švejk, an unfinished comic novel set during the First World War.

Dustin Stalnaker discovered Hašek’s lesser-known short stories in Germany, while researching the history of European antifascism. He grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania. He now runs the translation blog Tales from Jaroslav.