The Master and Margarita

by Mikhail Bulgakov
The Master and Margarita cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Magical Realism
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £8.99–£12.99 Hardback • £10.99–£16.99
Bookshop
Format • £9.49–£12.34
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 3660
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-11-29
  • ISBN: 9780099448693
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2004-01-01
  • Formats: 16
  • Reviews: 4

One hot spring, the Devil arrives in Moscow with a retinue of bizarre companions, including a naked witch and a vodka-loving cat, turning the city upside down. As the forces of law and order crumble, only the Master, a writer devoted to truth, and his beloved Margarita remain unshaken. This audacious novel weaves together the stories of Faust and Pontius Pilate, creating a timeless exploration of power, love, and the human condition. The Master and Margarita is celebrated for its dazzling surreal humor and fierce political satire, making it one of the essential classics of modern Russian literature. The novel's imaginative scope and rich symbolism have cemented its place as a cornerstone of 20th-century literature.

Reviews
The BookBag · Magda Healey · 2025-10-18
excellent 5.00

The book is a masterpiece with excellent writing and humor, particularly appreciated for its satirical elements and critique of authority. The reviewer finds it both clever and deeply engaging.

Magda Healey praises The Master and Margarita as a true masterpiece, highlighting its excellent writing and humor. She particularly appreciates the book's satirical elements and its clear critique of authority. The reviewer finds the narrative both clever and deeply engaging, making it a standout work of literary fiction. The blend of humor and serious commentary is noted as a key strength, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Quick quotes

    Customers find this book to be a true masterpiece with excellent writing and humor, particularly appreciating its satirical elements and clear critique of the ...

    The Master and Margarita is a multi-layered book with many symbolic references.

    It is a book that takes your breath away and makes you laugh out loud, sometimes at its cleverness, sometimes because it's just so funny and ...

Potpourri2015 · 2024-06-25
insightful 4.00

The book is a sharp satire of the Soviet regime, highlighting its repression and the role of the secret police. Its multi-layered narrative offers a profound critique of the era.

The reviewer appreciates the book as a biting satire that effectively critiques the Soviet regime, particularly its repressive tactics and the role of the secret police. They find the multi-layered narrative rich and thought-provoking, offering a deep dive into the psychological and social dynamics of the time. The book's ability to blend humor with serious commentary is particularly noted, making it a compelling read.

Quick quotes

    At one level, it is very much a satire and through it a critique of the Soviet regime at the time, including the repression—the secret police ...

    The Master and Margarita is a multi-layered book with many symbolic references.

    It does help to dig into the history of Russia and Eastern Europe of the 1920s ...

The Exiled Soul · 2020-02-02
thought-provoking 4.20

The novel is a multi-layered work with rich symbolic references, requiring a deep understanding of Russian history. The reviewer appreciates the novel's complexity and depth.

This review highlights the multi-layered nature of Bulgakov's novel, noting its rich symbolic references and the need for a deep understanding of Russian history. The reviewer appreciates the novel's complexity and depth, finding it a rewarding read. They also mention the novel's ability to blend fantasy with reality, creating a rich and thought-provoking narrative. The reviewer finds the novel's themes timeless and relevant, making it a compelling read.

Quick quotes

    The Master and Margarita is a multi-layered book with many symbolic references.

    It does help to dig into the history of Russia and Eastern Europe of the 1920s to fully appreciate the novel's depth.

    Bulgakov's novel is a rich and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, blending fantasy with reality in a compelling way.

The Guardian · 2014-08-19
thought-provoking 4.50

The book's satire of 1930s Stalinist Moscow reveals the psychological impact of political manipulation on a nation. It's a powerful exploration of how easily a society can be led astray.

The reviewer found Bulgakov's satire of 1930s Stalinist Moscow to be particularly enlightening, highlighting how easily a nation can be psychologically manipulated. They appreciate the book's ability to expose the mechanisms of political control and the profound impact it has on society. The reviewer also notes the book's timeless relevance, as its themes resonate with contemporary issues of power and manipulation.

Quick quotes

    Reading Bulgakov's satire of 1930s Stalinist Moscow helped me to see just how easy it is to mess up a nation psychologically.

    The Master and Margarita is a multi-layered book with many symbolic references.

    It is a book that takes your breath away and makes you laugh out loud, sometimes at its cleverness, sometimes because it's just so funny and ...

Appears in Lists