The Master and Margarita

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  Set in the 1930s, the novel’s vision of Soviet lifeis so painfully accurate that, for fear of political purging, it could not be published during Bulgakov’s lifetime. The truths portrayed in The Master and Margarita are inveterate in society that key phrases from the book has become common Russian speech. Two closely interwoven narratives (although not very obvious at the beginning), one concerning Moscow and the other Pontius Pilate in Jesus’ times, make up this cinematic novel, which audaci... (show more)

  Set in the 1930s, the novel’s vision of Soviet lifeis so painfully accurate that, for fear of political purging, it could not be published during Bulgakov’s lifetime. The truths portrayed in The Master and Margarita are inveterate in society that key phrases from the book has become common Russian speech. Two closely interwoven narratives (although not very obvious at the beginning), one concerning Moscow and the other Pontius Pilate in Jesus’ times, make up this cinematic novel, which audaciously deviates from the classic themes (family, war, judgment of mankind, exile, politics) and respects no unities of geography or time. This reading, along with thoughts evoked from the past readings, dawn in me Bulgakov’s intentions and beliefs behind writing this novel that is so rich in themes and implications. The wotk itself in unique in a sense that it doesn’t belong to a particular genre–this uncertainty of its genre, along with the mystery, ambiguity, irony and humor–render readers clueless of what to expect from the book, which makes the reading all the more intriguing. (show less)

   

   

  by Matthew on Oct 20, 2009 at 04:10PM

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  Witty narration and extensive list of characters (which at times was confusing but admittedly I haven't read much Russian literature.) Overall I liked the story's format going back and forth between individual stories and it's refreshing perspective on the devil who is remarkably fair to the morally corrupt characters he finds.

   

   

  by Elizabeth on Feb 24, 2010 at 09:33PM

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