Rating:  Summary: Fantastic complex book -- choose your translation carefully Review: This is an amazing literary feat, mixing together a fantastic story about the devil visiting Moscow, hilarious caustic satire about the literary society in the Soviet Union of the '30s, and a story-within-a-story about Pontius Pilate in ancient Jerusalem. But be careful! Not all translations are equally well done. In particular, the translation by Diana Burgin and Katherine O'Connor is the best one by a large margin. Among my friends, the ones who have read that translation have loved this book and ones who have read other versions have not. Your mileage may vary.
Rating:  Summary: Emotional review Review: I red this book 17 years before, and every nov and then I reach for it. Every time it is different, but I loved it all times. Both my age and age of the world find something new in it, like I've never red it before. Definetly book for deserted island.
Rating:  Summary: Outstanding Book Review: This book is nothing less than a masterpiece. A Faust inspired drama which tells the story of the devil and his companions when they come to Moscow. The book is filled with black humour and satire. It also contains a love story between The Master and Margerite. The passages from Palestina which tells the story of Jesus last days from the eyes of Pontius Pilatus are also very interesting.
Rating:  Summary: Master and Margarita Review: A masterpiece of carnival humor. But beware Mira Ginsburg's translation, she makes a few unnecessary mistakes.
Rating:  Summary: Any translation is nothing to the original Review: No offence but it is simply impossible to grasp Bulgakov's twisted mind in any translation....Fortunately I read it in Russian but when I tried to read the English translation from the first chapter I got confused.... plus many nuances from typical Russian life that the reader needs to know to get the full picture of the story...also, it is not true that ALL RUSSIANS love the book some do not go even close to it thinking that it contains evel thoughts....
Rating:  Summary: a warning . . . Review: I am a huge fan of Bulgakov's, however i gave this edition four stars for a reason. Ginsberg's translation is based on the incomplete text that was censored by the Soviet government. In order to appreciate the elements of social satire, I'd recommend the Michael Glenny translation, which works off of the full original source (and is simply a better translation). Of course, if you can't find the Glenny, Ginsberg is certainly better than not reading it at all. But be aware that you are missing crucial scenes.
Rating:  Summary: Qu'elle est belle cette histoire! Review: Le Maitre et Marguerite est tout simplement la plus belle histoire d'amour. Le style et la fluidite de l'ecriture sont hallucinant. Boulgakov est fort, tres fort. Si vous voulez en savoir plus sur Boulgakov, vous devez absolument vous plongez dans Morphine, coeur de chien... En clair tout Boulgakov est grand
Rating:  Summary: Wild, frightening, funny, Review: This book was given to me by a Russian friend who disapproved of my enthusiasm for Dostoyevsky (I never found out why). "The Master and Margarita" is something totally new to me. There is simply nothing like it. It is in turns thought-provoking, horribly frightening, and shatteringly funny. In any case, it is among the most vivid writing I've ever seen. Mind you, this is a translation I read. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like in Russian!The Devil comes to Moscow with a strange entourage to do some mischief. Meanwhile, a brilliant writer has been committed to psychiatric hospital after he's written an account of Christ's passion from Pilate's point of view. The reconciliation of these intertwining stories ends up reenacting the drama of Faust's bargain with the hornéd one himself. Maenwhile, there are scenes which must be read to be believed! I particularly loved the description of Rimsky, mad with terror, fleeing the girl vampire. Definitely the wildest book I've ever read.
Rating:  Summary: Best rusian novel of the 20th century Review: This book never stops to surprise me. It combines an elaborate plot, briliant sketches of Russia in the beginning of the century and effortlessly alternates between the grotesque and tear-breaking episodes. At one moment it can talk about people's quarrels over very small and earthy things, but in the next moment it suddenly rises to the discussion of such things like Destiny, Satan and God. This is one of the most compelling love stories of the century and at the same time a deeply phylosophical journey into the meaning of life. How Bulgakov was able to cobine this all in such an elegant and complete package is still a mistery to me. This book was a labor of his life. He was finishing it while he was already dying of cancer in his apartment in the Stalin's Moscow. The book was not published until long after Bulgakov's deth and it immediately sprked a cult following among the Russians. Many quotes from the book are now included in colloquial russian- a solid testimony to the quality and beauty of Bulgakov's writing.
Rating:  Summary: The best book for people in love Review: If you are in love,but your beloved person is far away,this book is definitely for you. The best book about love.
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