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It’s a surrealist satire about the devil visiting Moscow in the 1930s, with a parallel plot set in Jerusalem during the time of Christ. It’s a book I frequently recommend, especially to people who don’t regularly enjoy reading because it’s so captivating and sparkling. It offers a vacation from whatever place or situation you find yourself in for a little while. I missed it whenever I was away from it the entire time I was reading it. The picador edition includes a lot of detail and background info which is a version I would suggest for people not very familiar with Russia and its history and culture.
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May 18, 2025

Comments (7)

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I am in the process of reading this, will give a descriptive update soon >:)
May 23, 2025
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I read this on your rec last year and it was frankly delightful.
May 19, 2025
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This is my russian grandfather‘s favourite book
May 18, 2025
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favourite book ever....
May 18, 2025
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i adore this book! started reading it after i got way into russian lit through dostoevsky and it’s definitely more fun and uplifting than most of his work
May 18, 2025
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@PAPERPENDRAGON this is def easier and more accessible but they’re both friends of mine 🫶
May 18, 2025
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@SOFT crime and punishment and the idiot 4ever
May 18, 2025

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A surrealistic satire with the Devil cheekily raising hell around 1930s Moscow with a talking cat while *also* telling a story of Jesus and Pontius Pilate in ancient Jerusalem. Considered a classic for a reason.
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I will die on the hill that this is one of the best books of all time (though no one is making me, and there is no hill)!! On the surface this is a dark comedy about Satan and a band of vampires, a demon cat, and other ghouls coming to wreak havoc on Moscow A closer read will reveal elements of political satire and philosophical exploration pointed what it means to live and create art under Stalin’s authoritarian regime (the historical context in which the book was written). There’s also a love story in there, for good measure.
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by Mikhail Bulgakov I read it on Baby’s recommendation and it was phenomenal and y’all should read it too
Sep 10, 2024

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