The Master and Margarita
by Mikhail Bulgakov, George Guidall, Diana Burgin - Translator - translator, Katherine Tiernan O'Connor - Translator - translator
Narrated by George Guidall
Why You'll Love This
Stalin's Russia, the Devil walking Moscow streets, and one of the most subversive novels ever smuggled into print — this one earns every page.
- Great if you want: surreal literary fiction that blends satire, tragedy, and dark comedy
- The experience: layered and cerebral — rewards patience and full attention, not passive reading
- Narration: Guidall handles Bulgakov's tonal whiplash — demonic to tender — with rare authority
- Skip if: you prefer linear plots or straightforward storytelling
About This Book
Satan arrives in Soviet Moscow disguised as a mysterious professor, accompanied by his bizarre retinue of demons who wreak supernatural havoc across the city. As the Devil's theatrical pranks expose the corruption and hypocrisy of Moscow's literary elite, parallel narratives emerge: the tragic tale of a writer known only as the Master, whose novel about Pontius Pilate has been suppressed, and the desperate love of Margarita, who will sacrifice everything to save both her beloved and his forbidden manuscript. Bulgakov weaves together biblical drama, political satire, and dark comedy in this multilayered masterpiece that challenges both Soviet censorship and human nature itself.
George Guidall's masterful narration brings exceptional depth to Bulgakov's complex tapestry of voices and moods. His commanding presence captures the Devil's theatrical grandeur while shifting seamlessly between the novel's sardonic wit and its moments of profound tenderness. Guidall's decades of experience shine through his nuanced handling of the story's rapid transitions from biblical Jerusalem to Soviet Moscow, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the intricate connections between the novel's interwoven plots. The audio format particularly enhances the book's theatrical qualities, transforming Bulgakov's vivid scenes into an immersive theatrical experience.
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