The Master and Margarita

I bought this for a friend who had given it to me on the recommendation that it was one of the best translations. It's hard to believe it was written more 80 years ago, it could pass for a much more modern novel, And when you learn the backstory of the author and the severe restrictions of the Communist era that he worked within, you'll be even more amazed. A beautiful dreamscape of a novel that dissects and sends up the afflictions of humanity that very much exist today...

One of the great Russian novels, satirizing everything Bulgakov sets his sights on. I can't speak for the quality of the translation, but I found the book easy to read. Easy to read that is once I got used to the way Bulgakov casually bends time, space, history and religion to tell his story. Well before the recent explosion of Magical Realism, Bulgakov was already using it to tell this picaresque story of then contemporary Moscow and how it intersects with Roman ruled Palestine during a fateful period 2000 years ago, when one Pontius Pilate was in charge. Juxtaposed with that timeline, is Moscow during the Communist era, and its literary scene, something Bulgakov knew intimately and well, too well it would seem. This is satire at its sharpest, as the Devil and his cohort descend on Moscow afflicting the stolid citizens with fantasy and whimsy, some of it deadly. Bulgakov anchors his flights of fantasy in solid detail, bringing the Moscow of that time to life through its streets, buildings, what people wear, how they live and what they eat, a portrait that is at once loving, angry, affectionate and dark. No wonder it took so long for this novel to be published in the Soviet Union. Bulgakov had a clear and telling eye. Journey with him through the streets of Soviet era Moscow and ancient Palestine as he reshapes history and events to tell the story of how love can alter reality on so many levels.

Like the title is saying the book itself is great and legibility and print is great as far as I can tell from a quick look; but it got damaged somehow and I wouldn't consider it qualifying as a present anymore. Luckily it was only meant to be for myself so it doesn't bother me that much but imagine it was meant as a present.

I previously wrote that I needed to contact the seller as package had not arrived as stated. The Seller responded in 24hrs and explained that some deliveries could not be tracked and there were delays around the pandemic processes. The package has now arrived and the book is fascinating, surreal, engrossing and stimulating – The Master and Margarita.

Product arrived with damage to spine and wear on both covers. As though it had been in a students back pack for some time.Hard to justify the price tag. Shipping packaging and other products within were not damaged.