An Inspiring Flight of the Imagination

Being particularly keen on novels that have dark, twisted and surreal quality, the book that completely knocked me off my feet and which I felt overwhelmed by reading was “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov. Not only does this novel count among Bulgakov’s most appreciated works, it is also praised by many critics as one of the greatest novels of the 20^th century. There are innumerable reasons why is this so. Nevertheless, and despite its irrevocable brilliance, the novel during the writer’s life was censored due to the satira directed against the repressive bureaucratic social order, leaving Bulgakov deprived of a future as writer within the Soviet Union. What is more, the book was even described as being satanic propaganda by a religious fanatics who even vandalized Bulgakov’s museum in Moscow.

The characters in the book are so darkly compelling, yet wickedly funny that they leave the reader breathless. The opening chapter of the book was something I had never come across before. Settled in Moscow the story begins with Satan who pays a visit disguised as a mysterious magician who is about to reveal its disturbing plans. Bulgakov pictures the confrontation between the head of the literary bureaucracy named Berlioz (I have no idea if this has something to do with the composer of the same name) and the stage magician – Woland (which really sounds like a name for a magician). The story that follows is full of ambiguity and interweaving plots and compelling characters that completely satisfied my hunger – here we follow the fantastic last few days of the life of Christ and his trial and later crucifixion which seem that happen simultaneously with the chaos in timeless Moscow held in thrall by the Devil himself. 

The choice of subjects is not coincidental – Bulgakov in his story finds the similarities between the political and social systems of Pontius Pilate’s Jerusalim and Stalin’s Moscow, times of dictatorships and power, despotic justice and the pure power of love. Bulgakov succeeds in bringing out the effort of the humans to define a system in which cowards will be humiliated and the fear wil be rewarded with freedom and salvation.

Bulgakov’s outstanding novel for me stands next to one Joyce and it’s both intriguing and philosophical. An inspiring flight of the imagination by a true Master.

(This is a really, really old text that I decided to publish as if it would've been undoubtedly lost. Having encountered the works of Saramago and Murakami afterwards, I would probably admit that The Master and Margarite has flown a few places down into my list. Nevertheless, its sheer beauty and imagination deserve a lot more than a short not-so-informative review like this)