The Master and Margarita
“Manuscripts don't burn.”
Summary
The Devil comes to Moscow—and he's the hero. Professor Woland, a mysterious magician who is actually Satan, arrives in Soviet Moscow with his bizarre retinue: a giant talking cat, a fanged assassin, and a naked witch. Their visit exposes the petty corruption, cowardice, and hypocrisy of the Soviet literary establishment. Interwoven with this satire is the story of the Master, a writer driven to madness for his novel about Pontius Pilate, and Margarita, his devoted lover who makes a deal with the Devil to save him. Bulgakov spent twelve years writing this novel in secret, knowing it could never be published in his lifetime. It is a defiant hymn to art, love, and the resilience of the human spirit against tyranny.
Why Read This?
It is the funniest and most subversive book to come out of Soviet Russia. Bulgakov mocks the censors, the bureaucrats, and the cowards with a wit that is both savage and generous. The Devil, paradoxically, is a force for justice, punishing only those who deserve it. But beneath the comedy is a profound meditation on the relationship between good and evil, art and power, love and sacrifice. The scenes set in ancient Jerusalem, depicting the encounter between Pilate and Yeshua (Jesus), are among the most haunting in literature. It is a book that could only have been written by someone who had nothing left to lose.
About the Author
Mikhail Bulgakov (1891–1940) was a Soviet playwright and novelist whose works were banned and suppressed during his lifetime. A former doctor, he turned to writing and found himself in constant conflict with Stalinist censorship. He wrote The Master and Margarita over twelve years, revising it on his deathbed, dictating final changes to his wife. He died never knowing if it would be read by anyone. The novel was finally published in 1966, a quarter-century after his death, and became an instant underground sensation.
Reading Guide
Ranked #34 among the greatest books of all time, The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov has earned its place in the literary canon. Originally written in Russian and published in 1967, this moderate read from Russia continues to resonate with readers today.
This book belongs to our Magical Realism and Society & Satire collections, where you can discover more books that share its spirit and themes.
If you enjoy moderate reads like this one, you might also like One Hundred Years of Solitude, Nineteen Eighty Four, or Wuthering Heights.
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