The Master and Margarita

by Mikhail Bulgakov
The Master and Margarita cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Magical Realism
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Technical
  • ID: 3660
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9780099448693
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2004-01-01
  • Formats: 8
  • Reviews: 3

The Master and Margarita is a dazzling and imaginative novel that combines political satire with surreal humor. Set in Moscow, the story begins with the arrival of the Devil and his entourage, causing chaos and filling asylums with those who witness their antics. The narrative intertwines with the stories of the Master, a writer devoted to truth, and Margarita, his beloved, who remain steadfast amidst the turmoil. This novel is an audacious revision of the stories of Faust and Pontius Pilate, offering a unique blend of fantasy, satire, and historical fiction. It stands as one of the essential classics of modern Russian literature, celebrated for its wit, depth, and imaginative storytelling.

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 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 ...

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