REVIEW: The Master and Margarita (Mikhail Bulgakov)

Book: The Master and Margarita

Author: Mikhail Bulgakov.

My rating: 4/5.

Premise: One hot spring, the devil arrives in Moscow, accompanied by a retinue that includes a beautiful naked witch and an immense talking black cat with a fondness for chess and vodka. The visitors quickly wreak havoc in a city that refuses to believe in either God or Satan. But they also bring peace to two unhappy Muscovites: one is the Master, a writer pilloried for daring to write a novel about Christ and Pontius Pilate; the other is Margarita, who loves the Master so deeply that she is willing literally to go to hell for him.

I'd heard that this was a satire on Soviet Russia and I thought it was going to be a heavy read. But it was the complete opposite. In one word, this book is bonkers! There's so many ludicrous things that happen, but the author tells it in a way that makes it seem absolutely normal - a giant cat to have a gun fight with the police, sure, that's a thing! Normally with classics, I don't tend to flick to the notes at the back as I go along. But with this book I had to because there's a lot of hidden meaning and wit throughout the book. I love how some of the characters tormented happen to be named after Bulgakov's critics! Honestly, this book is such a wild ride and absolute gem that I'd recommend it wholeheartedly!