Original language: Czech

Original title: Closely watched trains

Year of publication: 1965

Translation: Fernando de Valenzuela

Valuation: definitely, more than recommended

Perhaps this is not the most famous of the novels by Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal, but it is a more than advisable way to approach his work, for several reasons: the brevity of the text, the narrative agility and the combination of humor with tragedy. , which make this short novel irresistible. The plot is set in 1945, at the train station of a town or small bohemian city, between Dresden and Prague, where young Milos returns to work after three months off work due to a suicide attempt – later we will find out the cause. ; There we will meet the rest of the characters in the story: the hedonistic factor Hubicka, the peculiar station chief and his wife, the telegrapher Zebricka, etc.

The station becomes a microcosm or a representation of Czech society during the war: we find characters totally opposed to the German invasion, as well as someone else who is not only in favor, but also tries to prosper as a citizen of the Reich (remember that Bohema and Moravia were annexed as German provinces). Furthermore, not only passenger or cargo trains pass through this railway line, but also numerous military convoys, both hospital trains that return from the front full of wounded and dead and others that carry soldiers and ammunition in the opposite direction. These are the “rigorously monitored trains” to which the title of the book alludes and to which the railway workers at this station pay special attention, as we will see…

Anyone would think that in a novel like this, which takes place in the midst of both a general tragedy that involves a war, and a particular one, which is the suicidal tendency of young Milos, the predominant tone would be dramatic and dark… but nothing further from reality: here the humor – a sarcastic and even laughable humor, generally, but sometimes also finer and sometimes somewhat naive; in any case, always vitalist – is present from the beginning of the narrative until almost the end. To point out, it must be explained that this humorous tone does not alternate with the dramatic moments, but rather that both overlap, and without problems. The tone is undoubtedly reminiscent of that of another great Czech writer, Jaroslav Hasek, in his famous The adventures of the brave soldier Schweik, which was apparently a great influence on Hrabal. In both cases, the underlying thesis is quite clear: war is a tragedy, without a doubt, but it is also absurd, and as such, it cannot fail to be comical. The influence of Hasek’s book can also be seen in the character of young Milos, who, on this occasion tells us what happened in the first person, is someone very naive or very smart, leaving us with doubt…
I don’t want to go into more detail because, as it is a short novel, I prefer that those who read it for the first time appreciate the virtues of its highly recommended reading. He will only mention that the argument is based on the experiences of Hrabal himself, who during World War II and after having studied, without much enthusiasm, a law degree, he worked for a few years as a railroad worker; He must have liked the work experience away from books, since he later also worked in places as diverse as a metallurgical factory, an old paper press or the stage of a theater, all activities that, by the way, helped him write paths. novels (and anyone would say they inspired the Adventures of the printer Zollinger). Nor, apparently, was he oblivious to the idea of ​​suicide, and, in fact, there are still doubts about his own death…

Many other Bophumil Hrabal titles reviewed on this blog: Weddings at home, I announce a house where I no longer want to live, The misadventures of old Werther, The small town where time stood still, Dance classes for adults, My cat Auticko, I who have served the king of England, Too much loneliness noisy

Source: https://unlibroaldia.blogspot.com/2023/12/novelas-pirana-7-trenes-rigurosamente.html



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