The Master and Margarita

The Master and Margarita is a novel by Mikhail Bulgakov, written between 1928 and 1940 and first published in censored form in the Soviet Union in 1966–1967, with a book publication in Paris in 1967.

The Master and Margarita is a novel by Mikhail Bulgakov, written between 1928 and 1940 and first published in censored form in the Soviet Union in 1966–1967, with a book edition in Paris in 1967. It is a satirical, fantastical work that combines a Moscow plot involving the Devil with a parallel story about Pontius Pilate and Yeshua Ha-Notsri. The novel is widely regarded as one of the major works of 20th-century Russian literature.

Plot

The novel presents interwoven storylines set in 1930s Moscow and in Jerusalem during the time of Pontius Pilate. Its best-known characters include the Devil, disguised as Woland, the Master, and Margarita.

Publication history

Bulgakov worked on the novel from 1928 to 1940, but it was not published in full during his lifetime. It first appeared in censored form in the Soviet Union in 1966–1967, and the first book edition was published in Paris in 1967.

Themes and interpretation

The novel satirizes Soviet bureaucracy and atheism while also engaging with questions of good and evil, religion, and artistic freedom. It is also noted for blending realism, fantasy, and philosophical material.

Critical reception

The book is widely regarded as one of the finest novels of 20th-century Russian literature. Reference works and literary sources commonly describe it as a masterpiece and one of the most highly regarded novels from the Soviet era.