J.A.E. Curtis
2019-12-17
Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita, set in Stalin’s Moscow, is an intriguing work with a complex structure, wonderful comic episodes and moments of great beauty. Readers are often left tantalized but uncertain how to understand its rich meanings. To what extent is it political? Or religious? And how should we interpret the Satanic Woland? This reader’s companion offers readers a biographical introduction, and analyses of the structure and the main themes of the novel. More curious readers will also enjoy the accounts of the novel’s writing and publication history, alongside analyses of the work’s astonishing linguistic complexity and a review of available English translations.
An electrifying fusion of fantasy, satire, and philosophy. Bulgakov's narrative is as unconventional as it is profound, with the devil, Woland, wreaking havoc in Soviet Moscow. The interplay between the surreal and the everyday is masterful. Each chapter unfolds with surprising twists, and the characters are deeply human yet larger than life. It's a book that challenges your perceptions and invites you to think deeply about power, love, and the absurdities of life.
