Russia under Communism: Bulgakov, his Life and his Book

Mikhail Bulgakov¿s novel The Master and Margarita, ¿the most beautiful novel ever written¿, describes the drama of a good writer who spends his life under a communist, i.e. an atheist regime in Moscow during the 1930s. It runs on two levels: the writer¿s tragedy in that he believes that Christ does exist, did teach, and was indeed crucified; and Jesus¿s story proper. At length, the writer, i.e. the Master, and his beloved Margarita are delivered by the Devil ; for in Bulgakov¿s mind, Satan is not against Christ but for Him¿ To understand, nonetheless, not only the masterpiece of Bulgakov but the milieu in which he spent his life, it is necessary to have in view the following points: The Bolsheviks in general and Stalin in particular; the fate of the Ukraine during the last stages of the First World War and the opening stages of the Communist regime; the Bogomils; and the Story of Christ. These very points are elucidated in this little book¿