Author: | Josef Skvorecky | ISBN: | 9780307364180 |
Publisher: | Knopf Canada | Publication: | July 31, 2012 |
Imprint: | Vintage Canada | Language: | English |
Author: | Josef Skvorecky |
ISBN: | 9780307364180 |
Publisher: | Knopf Canada |
Publication: | July 31, 2012 |
Imprint: | Vintage Canada |
Language: | English |
In a not-so-long-ago time, on an army base in rural Czechoslovakia, the draftees of the Seventh Tank Battalion gird themselves for the inevitable war with America by practicing tank manoeuvres (or faking them), studying Russian texts (with horror novels tucked inside), and singing patriotic songs (with refreshing new lyrics).
Among them is Tank Commander Danny Smiricky, looking forward to discharge and trying to stay out of trouble in the meantime--not an easy task when he's torn between two irresistible women, and surrounded by a boisterous and hilariously independent-minded tank crew. But the greatest danger to Danny is his politically correct major, a tiny termagant known as the Pygmy Devil. And on the eve of Danny's discharge, disaster looms...
Behind the comedy of his exuberantly lustful tale lies a savage parody of life under foreign occupation.
In a not-so-long-ago time, on an army base in rural Czechoslovakia, the draftees of the Seventh Tank Battalion gird themselves for the inevitable war with America by practicing tank manoeuvres (or faking them), studying Russian texts (with horror novels tucked inside), and singing patriotic songs (with refreshing new lyrics).
Among them is Tank Commander Danny Smiricky, looking forward to discharge and trying to stay out of trouble in the meantime--not an easy task when he's torn between two irresistible women, and surrounded by a boisterous and hilariously independent-minded tank crew. But the greatest danger to Danny is his politically correct major, a tiny termagant known as the Pygmy Devil. And on the eve of Danny's discharge, disaster looms...
Behind the comedy of his exuberantly lustful tale lies a savage parody of life under foreign occupation.