Mikhail Bulgakov

Nothing in the whole of literature compares with The Master and Margarita. Full of pungency and wit, this luminous work is Bulgakov's crowning achievement, skilfully blending magical and realistic elements, grotesque situations and major ethical concerns. Written during the darkest period of Stalin's repressive reign and a devastating satire of Soviet life, it combines two distinct yet interwoven parts, one set in contemporary Moscow, the other in ancient Jerusalem, each brimming with incident and with historical, imaginary, frightful and wonderful characters. Although completed in 1940, The Master and Margarita was not published until 1966 when the first section appeared in the monthly magazine Moskva. Russians everywhere responded enthusiastically to the novel's artistic and spiritual freedom and it was an immediate and enduring success. This new translation has been made from the complete and unabridged Russian text.

The Master and Margarita

Мастер и Маргарита

Diana Burgin

Katherine Tiernan O'Connor

The underground masterpiece of twentieth-century Russian fiction, this classic novel was written during Stalin’s regime and could not be published until many years after its author’s death.

When the devil arrives in 1930s Moscow, consorting with a retinue of odd associates—including a talking black cat, an assassin, and a beautiful naked witch—his antics wreak havoc among the literary elite of the world capital of atheism. Meanwhile, the Master, author of an unpublished novel about Jesus and Pontius Pilate, languishes in despair in a pyschiatric hospital, while his devoted lover, Margarita, decides to sell her soul to save him. As Bulgakov’s dazzlingly exuberant narrative weaves back and forth between Moscow and ancient Jerusalem, studded with scenes ranging from a giddy Satanic ball to the murder of Judas in Gethsemane, Margarita’s enduring love for the Master joins the strands of plot across space and time.

abi a

‘Go on?' repeated the visitor. ‘Why, you can guess for yourself how it went on.’ He suddenly wiped an unexpected tear with his right sleeve and continued: ‘Love leaped out in front of us like a murderer in an alley leaping out of nowhere, and struck us both at once. As lightning strikes, as a Finnish knife strikes! She, by the way, insisted afterwards that it wasn't so, that we had, of course, loved each other for a long, long time, without knowing each other, never having seen each other, and that she was living with a different man...as I was, too, then...’

The acclaimed, bestselling translation of Mikhail Bulgakov's masterwork, an undisputed classic of Russian and world literature An audacious revision of the stories of Faust and Pontius Pilate, The Master and Margarita is recognized as one of the essential classics of modern Russian literature. The novel's vision of Soviet life in the 1930s is so ferociously accurate that it could not be published during its author's lifetime and appeared only in a censored edition in the 1960s. Its truths are so enduring that its language has become part of the common Russian speech. Now The Overlook Press is reissuing this acclaimed translation in an all-new package. One hot spring, the devil arrives in Moscow, accompanied by a retinue that includes a beautiful naked witch and an immense talking black cat with a fondness for chess and vodka. The visitors quickly wreak havoc in a city that refuses to believe in either God or Satan. But they also bring peace to two unhappy Muscovites: one is the Master, a writer pilloried for daring to write a novel about Christ and Pontius Pilate; the other is Margarita, who loves the Master so deeply that she is willing literally to go to hell for him. What ensues is a novel of inexhaustible energy, humor, and philosophical depth, a work whose nuances splendidly emerge in Diana Burgin's and Katherine Tiernan O'Connor's superb English translation, with an afterword and extensive commentary by Ellendea Proffer.

louv

“GODS, my gods! How sad the earth is at eventide! How mysterious are the mists over the swamps. Anyone who has wandered in these mists, who has suffered a great deal before death, or flown above the earth, bearing a burden beyond his strength knows this. One who is exhausted knows this. And without regret he forsakes the mists of the earth, its swamps and rivers, and. sinks into the arms of death with a light heart, knowing that death alone …”

“He has read the Master’s work,” began Levi Matvei, “and asks that you take the Master with you and grant him peace. Is that so difficult for you to do, Spirit of Evil?”

“Nothing is difficult for me to do,” replied Woland, “as you well know.” He was silent for a moment and then added, “But why aren’t you taking him with you to the light?”

“He has not earned light, he has earned peace,” said Levi in a sorrowful voice.”

“You pronounced your words as if you refuse to acknowledge the existence of either shadows or evil. But would you kindly ponder this question: what would your good do if evil didn’t exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared? After all, shadows are cast by things and people. Here is the shadow of my sword. But shadows also come from trees and from living beings. Do you want to strip the earth of all trees and living things just because of your fantasy of enjoying naked light? You’re stupid.”

“Forgive me, but I don’t believe you,” said Woland. “That cannot be. Manuscripts don’t burn.”

“Just like a murderer jumps out of nowhere in an alley, love jumped out in front of us and struck us both at once! The way lightning strikes, or a Finnish knife! She, by the way, would later say that it wasn’t like that, that we had, of course, loved each other for a very long time, without knowing or ever having seen each other, and that she was living with another man … and I was then … with that … what’s her name”

“The poet had wasted his night while others were feasting and now understood that it was impossible to get it back. One needed only to raise one’s head from the lamp to the sky to understand that the night was irretrievably lost. Waiters were hurriedly tearing the tablecloths from the tables. The cats slinking around the veranda had a morning look. Day irresistibly heaved itself upon the poet.”

A fierce satire, filled with dazzling surreal humourTRANSLATED BY MICHAEL GLENNY The devil makes a personal appearance in Moscow accompanied by various demons, including a naked girl and a huge black cat. When he leaves, the asylums are full and the forces of law and order in disarray. Only the Master, a man devoted to truth, and Margarita, the woman he loves, can resist the devil's onslaught.

Helen 

“I demand to be turned back to my usual shape! the pig suddenly grunted, half angry, half begging. I refuse to take part in an illegal assembly! Margarita Nikolayevna, kindly take your maid off my back.”

Presents a satirical drama about Satan's visit to Moscow, where he learns that the citizens no longer believe in God. He decides to teach them a lesson by perpetrating a series of horrific tricks. Combines two distinct yet interwoven parts, one set in contemporary Moscow, the other in ancient Jerusalem.

Nica Rhiana

tanja spasojevic

Really amazing story, and some fantastic background to the story. I learned a lot about 1930s Russia following the magical story of The Master and Margarita. There seems to be lots to dive into here, and I will definitely reread again later down in life!

Max Riley

This has been such an incredible journey start to finish. The way Bulgakov writes sucks you in and keeps you reading. His prose is beautiful, the story is mysterious and the characters are both loveable and funny. 

First I want to talk about Ivan. From the moment I met him I knew he was going to be my favorite. His skepticism, wit and at times aloofness really made his character so amazing, especially once he ended up in the mental hospital after seeing Berlioz getting decapitated. His talk with the doctor will live forever in my mind. Ivan my dear my wonderful, silly poet <3

Another part of this story that I found really interesting was the Pontius Pilate chapters, and this might very well be my christian upbringing and deep knowledge with the story itself as is in the bible. I will say though, I found Bulgakov's spin on the story both interesting and unique, while still staying somewhat true to the biblical story. 

Woland - if satan was this fun, I'd let him mess with my life too. Especially if he invited me to a banquet and showed me magic. 

The master and Margarita - the love story within the book. I loved how secretive the master was due to his lack of memories, and the way their story ended truly felt like it hit all the pointers to make this story as great as it is. The reunion and their fate at the end. It all tied in so nicely to create this wonderful magical realism that i truly adored. 

The reason it's a 4.5 and not a 5-star however is because i at times found parts not only over-explanatory where the point felt obvious but I also wish I had more of some characters, and less of others. 

All in all, such a enjoyable book and absolutely one I will be recommending to others.

marie

This has been such an incredible journey start to finish. The way Bulgakov writes sucks you in and keeps you reading. His prose is beautiful, the story is mysterious and the characters are both loveable and funny. 

First I want to talk about Ivan. From the moment I met him I knew he was going to be my favorite. His skepticism, wit and at times aloofness really made his character so amazing, especially once he ended up in the mental hospital after seeing Berlioz getting decapitated. His talk with the doctor will live forever in my mind. Ivan my dear my wonderful, silly poet <3

Another part of this story that I found really interesting was the Pontius Pilate chapters, and this might very well be my christian upbringing and deep knowledge with the story itself as is in the bible. I will say though, I found Bulgakov's spin on the story both interesting and unique, while still staying somewhat true to the biblical story. 

Woland - if satan was this fun, I'd let him mess with my life too. Especially if he invited me to a banquet and showed me magic. 

The master and Margarita - the love story within the book. I loved how secretive the master was due to his lack of memories, and the way their story ended truly felt like it hit all the pointers to make this story as great as it is. The reunion and their fate at the end. It all tied in so nicely to create this wonderful magical realism that i truly adored. 


The reason it's a 4.5 and not a 5-star however is because i at times found parts not only over-explanatory where the point felt obvious but I also wish I had more of some characters, and less of others. 

All in all, such a enjoyable book and absolutely one I will be recommending to others.

Um livro tão distinto de tudo o que já li este ano. Caprichoso, extravagante e unicamente estranho e bizarro. É uma obra que sabe não se levar demasiado a sério, que brinca com a realidade e a distorce de maneiras hilariantes. Cada capítulo era repleto de referências absurdas e ironia, ainda que tão perspicazes no seu criticismo à Rússia Comunista. 

Realmente não há nenhum livro como 'O Mestre a Margarita'; Bulgakov é um revolucionário da literatura russa, desafia o realismo e escuridão dos clássicos de Dostoyevsky, Tosltoy, Gogol,... Ao invés de cenários sombrios, Bulgakov presenteia o leitor com um mundo mágico (que, não obstante, continua a ser extremamente humano, simples, e real - o cenário continua Moscovo, ainda que com algumas peculiaridades).

A verdadeira de definição de ''ver (ou ler!) para crer''. 

dyonisos.

Um livro tão distinto de tudo o que já li este ano. Caprichoso, extravagante e unicamente estranho e bizarro. É uma obra que sabe não se levar demasiado a sério, que brinca com a realidade e a distorce de maneiras hilariantes. Cada capítulo era repleto de referências absurdas e ironia, ainda que tão perspicazes no seu criticismo à Rússia Comunista. 
Realmente não há nenhum livro como 'O Mestre a Margarita'; Bulgakov é um revolucionário da literatura russa, desafia o realismo e escuridão dos clássicos de Dostoyevsky, Tosltoy, Gogol,... Ao invés de cenários sombrios, Bulgakov presenteia o leitor com um mundo mágico (que, não obstante, continua a ser extremamente humano, simples, e real - o cenário continua Moscovo, ainda que com algumas peculiaridades).


A verdadeira de definição de ''ver (ou ler!) para crer''. 

Orlando Figes

Михаи́л Афана́сьевич Булга́ков

A literary sensation from its first publication, The Master and Margarita is considered a masterpiece of twentieth-century Russian literature.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library, a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold-foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is translated by Diana Burgin and Katherine Tiernan O’Connor, and features an introduction by Orlando Figes.

In Mikhail Bulgakov's imaginative extravaganza, Satan, disguised as a magician, descends upon Moscow in the 1930s with his riotous band, which includes a talking cat and an expert assassin. This visit has several aims, one of which concerns the fate of the Master, an author who has written a novel about Pontius Pilate and is now in a mental hospital. By turns satiric, fantastic and ironically philosophical, The Master and Margarita constantly surprises and entertains as the action switches back and forth between twentieth-century Moscow and first-century Jerusalem.
([source](https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/mikhail-bulgakov/the-master-and-margarita/9781529012118))

Master and Margarita

I love art that isn’t immediately known to you from the first chance getting to know it. There's something captivating about not fully grasping the entire context—it opens the door to personal discoveries about history, world leaders, literary references, and so much more. I find it fascinating to uncover philosophy in Christianity or other religions through the lens of a different belief system. It’s not that it makes me feel smarter; rather, it offers an experience I know I could never find in contemporary literature. I think I’m in love with the inherent strangeness of classic books, and Bulgakov’s writing, in particular, is so mesmerizing that I never want to stop immersing myself in it.

I have a theory about Woland’s role in 

. He was present at Christ’s execution and later appears in Moscow during Stalin’s Soviet regime, a time when the government aggressively promoted atheism and rejected religion. Woland seems to have a specific purpose: to expose and punish the people’s denial of Christ and their refusal to believe in His existence. He finds amusement in their ignorance, especially in how stubbornly they reject the idea of God. But Woland’s actions aren’t just for his own entertainment. He eliminates anyone who opposes him or tries to stand in his way. What’s interesting is how he punishes people in ways that match their beliefs. Since they deny God, Woland becomes a kind of divine reckoning, enforcing justice in his own way. His presence forces the people to face the consequences of their disbelief. To Woland, this approach makes sense—if they’ve already dismissed God, he feels free to act as he pleases, without following divine rules. This connects to the translator’s note: “

As Woland’s existence proves the existence of a God the Soviet state has abandoned—so the writer tells lies in order to say something true

.” Woland’s presence challenges the Soviet regime’s rejection of God, showing that denying spiritual truths doesn’t make them disappear. Instead, their ignorance and defiance invite forces like Woland, who punish them in ways they can’t understand or escape.

🏹

I love art that isn’t immediately known to you from the first chance getting to know it. There's something captivating about not fully grasping the entire context—it opens the door to personal discoveries about history, world leaders, literary references, and so much more. I find it fascinating to uncover philosophy in Christianity or other religions through the lens of a different belief system. It’s not that it makes me feel smarter; rather, it offers an experience I know I could never find in contemporary literature. I think I’m in love with the inherent strangeness of classic books, and Bulgakov’s writing, in particular, is so mesmerizing that I never want to stop immersing myself in it.

I have a theory about Woland’s role in The Master and Margarita. He was present at Christ’s execution and later appears in Moscow during Stalin’s Soviet regime, a time when the government aggressively promoted atheism and rejected religion. Woland seems to have a specific purpose: to expose and punish the people’s denial of Christ and their refusal to believe in His existence. He finds amusement in their ignorance, especially in how stubbornly they reject the idea of God. But Woland’s actions aren’t just for his own entertainment. He eliminates anyone who opposes him or tries to stand in his way. What’s interesting is how he punishes people in ways that match their beliefs. Since they deny God, Woland becomes a kind of divine reckoning, enforcing justice in his own way. His presence forces the people to face the consequences of their disbelief. To Woland, this approach makes sense—if they’ve already dismissed God, he feels free to act as he pleases, without following divine rules. This connects to the translator’s note: “As Woland’s existence proves the existence of a God the Soviet state has abandoned—so the writer tells lies in order to say something true.” Woland’s presence challenges the Soviet regime’s rejection of God, showing that denying spiritual truths doesn’t make them disappear. Instead, their ignorance and defiance invite forces like Woland, who punish them in ways they can’t understand or escape.

An utter mystery. For me, seductive and out of the blue. 

Adam Scharf

Chris Dailey

Surrealist satire set in Stalin's Soviet Union spotlighting the absurdity of the bureaucracy and championing the human humor and spirit. The novel follows Satan and his retinue, highlighted by a large, vodka drinking cat, who appear in 1930's Moscow and begin to expose the hypocrisy of the Soviet elite. They eventually come in contact with the novel's namesakes: an author known by his love, Margarita, as the Master. Across Moscow with some pitstops in Christ's Jerusalem, the story is about religion, the state's hypocrisy, seizing life, following passions, and being an individual. Almost impossible to summarize, the novel can seem to be disjointed, but is ultimately highly memorable because it's full of gallows humor and tender moments.

Bulgakov’s writing is as divine and illustrious as the various expeditions taken by the devil and his party.  Book 2 was more of a favourite for me, with the storyline weaving in and out of a dark phantasmal blur. For some reason aspects of the novel reminded me of darker themes in Spirited Away. 

Interposed between a retelling of the crucifixion of Christ is the most charming bewildering and lighthearted Russian story about mischief and the pitfalls of cowardice. Unlike many of his contemporary counterparts (Gogol, Pushkin, Tolstoy) bulgakov does not fixate on Soviet era Russia’s strife and misery but instead tells a tale about satan in Moscow with his crew of henchmen while they rampage though the city. So enjoyable and lighthearted. Couldn’t help but laugh out loud each time behemoth the hind leg walking vodka drinking cigarette smoking black cat decided to play a game of William Tell or fire off his Browning at the Russian secret service. 

jaya kohol

britt

my brain needs a break. will review later.

Natalie

Had high expectations for this book, after hearing heaps of praise about it, yet somehow my expectations were still exceeded. What makes this novel so singular in its brilliance is its heart that cohesively brings together widely disparate elements of its narrative (e.g. satire, fairy tale, etc). A classic that I plan to re-read many, many times.

Matt Ball

i only got halfway thru before i had to put it down. what was even happening.. i couldnt follow especially with all the random characters. i can usually get thru older & complex books but nothing was connecting and the dialogue was so strange that it was more confusing than funny. i wanted to believe i would get into it but i just couldnt :( 

akala ko nasa psych ward ako e. I guess I'm not yet ready for this kind of book, this magical realism shit coz I did not appreciate it the way other people did, I have an idea what the author is trying to say but still it's not for me.

All'amico segreto / Lettera al governo dell'Urss

Il Maestro e Margherita

silvia

«Non bisogna certo fare dei grandi progetti, caro vicino, è vero! Io, per esempio, volevo fare il giro di tutta la Terra. Si vede che non era stato scritto. Vedo solo un insignificante pezzetto di questa Terra. Penso che non sia il migliore che esista al mondo, ma, lo ripeto, non è poi così misero.»

Любовь выскочила перед нами, как из-под земли выскакивает убийца в переулке, и поразила нас сразу обоих was the first sentence i voluntarily translated in rus101 freshman yr shoutout bulgakov

Stan D

i don’t have the words to explain just how much i adored this book, but it’s going to stick with me for a long time. hands down one of the best books i’ve ever read.

Classic! Deeply layered, wonderfully chroeographed and satisfying storyline. 

Hamed Khalidi

Derek Graf

E-thar

Follow me, reader! Who told you that there is no true, faithful, eternal love in this world! May the liar’s vile tongue be cut out! Follow me, my reader, and me alone, and I will show you such a love!

Ward

heleen de boever

I very much enjoyed reading a book that makes no claims on truthfulness whatsoever.

Good book, it takes focus while reading to follow the story. It takes a mature mind to understand. It's a decent book but not something you should go for when looking for a light read. 

Tijana

Gavin

Faust in Moscow with laffs and a less-straightforward moral; also a solemn and harrowing Passion play; also a revenge play on the various apparatchiks and shill artists that made Bulgakov's life a constant question mark. I loved book one, in which the devil upends Stalinist control with seances, magic tricks, telegram lulz, and horrible trolling of only somewhat venal people. 

  Love leaped out in front of us like a murderer in an alley leaping out of nowhere, and struck us both at once. As lightning strikes, as a Finnish knife strikes!

 

It has a sweet fairytale air over and above the murders and the Satanic chaos. 

  Follow me reader! Who told you that there is no true, faithful, eternal love in this world! May the liar's vile tongue be cut out!
 

Was wondering if it's a Christian novel, but it is heretical to balls. Yeshua to Pilate:
	In fact, I'm beginning to fear that this confusion will go on for a long time. And all because [Mark] writes down what I said incorrectly.

The Master and Margarita

Reviews

Highlights