Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita: A Book Review

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In terms of innovation and creativity, Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita crafts a beautiful tale that mystifies, amuses, and traipses across history. While difficult to fully describe, the novel is both literal and dense, yet the density is rewarding and in no way stands as an exercise in self-flagellation.

Set in 1930’s Moscow, the novel follows that hysteria that the appearance of a gang of magical, omniscient, and seemingly knavish causes in the city. No life is spared, no one is safe, and everything is at risk. On one end a strange foreigner takes over the artistic community with his ghosts, witches, and talking cat, while on the other a mysterious figure known as The Master discusses his motivations for creating a novel that centers on Pontius Pilate. At times these two plot lines and their many spokes seemingly have no connection, yet at others they overlap, intersect, and ultimately intertwine. In the process, the reader is treated to tremendous satire, and a brand of dark comedy rarely found in any media. The results stand as enjoyable and rewarding experience worth both the time and money.