The Master & Margarita

| 4.45 | 238,039 ratings and reviews

Recommended by Neil Gaiman, Max Levchin, Rupert Isaacson, and 8 others. See all reviews

Ranked #1 in Bible Story, Ranked #1 in Jerusalem — see more rankings.

Mikhail Bulgakov's devastating satire of Soviet life was written during the darkest period of Stalin's regime. Combining two distinct yet interwoven parts—one set in ancient Jerusalem, one in contemporary Moscow—the novel veers from moods of wild theatricality with violent storms, vampire attacks, and a Satanic ball; to such somber scenes as the meeting of Pilate and Yeshua, and the murder of Judas in the moonlit garden of Gethsemane; to the substanceless, circus-like reality of Moscow. Its central characters, Woland (Satan) and his retinue—including the vodka-drinking black cat, Behemoth;... more
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Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of The Master & Margarita from the world's leading experts.

Neil Gaiman @Slavinskas_art I love that book. (Source)

Max Levchin Co-founder/PayPal, CEO/Affirm, InvestorOne of the finest works of fiction of the last century. (Source)

Rupert Isaacson It’s all about compassion for yourself, for others and really how ultimately that’s all that matters. (Source)

Annunziata Reesmogg @John_Stepek Great book (Source)

Bradley Voytek The Master and Margarita is brilliant for the complexity of the relationship between good and evil in it. (Source)

Andi Dumitrescu If I had to make a more rational choice, I’d go with Ulises or The Master and Margareta, but I think that choice is a bit snobbish. (Source)

Nigar Hasan-Zadeh The Master and Margarita is the most mystical and mysterious way of describing the primitive and base sort of simplification of society under the Soviets. (Source)

Nick Clegg I defy anyone to read those opening pages…and not have it slightly get under their skin and haunt them. (Source)

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