Mikhail Bulgakov
Mikhail Bulgakov
15 May 1891 – 10 March 1940- Books
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About
Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov (1891-1940) was a Russian-language novelist, playwright and short-story writer, born in Kyiv, then part of the Russian Empire, and later a Soviet writer based in Moscow. He trained as a physician and practised briefly before turning to writing in 1920.
His satires of Soviet life include the novellas The Fatal Eggs and Heart of a Dog, and his plays were staged at the Moscow Art Theatre, though Soviet authorities banned much of his work.
His best-known book, The Master and Margarita, written in the 1930s, first appeared in censored form in 1966-67, more than twenty-five years after his death, and is regarded as one of the major novels of the twentieth century.
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A Country Doctor's Notebook is an excellent entry point as it consists of accessible, semi-autobiographical short stories based on his early medical career. For those interested in his satirical style, Heart of a Dog is a shorter, highly regarded novella that serves as a perfect introduction to his biting social commentary.
His works have been adapted for the screen numerous times, with Heart of a Dog and The Master and Margarita receiving multiple interpretations. A notable recent example is the television series A Young Doctor's Notebook, which draws from his collection of short stories.
His prose is characterized by a unique blend of sharp satire, surrealism, and deep philosophical inquiry. He frequently weaves fantastical or supernatural elements into mundane settings to critique the political and social realities of his time.