Mikhail Bulgakov

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Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov (Russian: Михаил Афанасьевич Булгаков; 15 May 1891 – 10 March 1940) was a Russian writer, medical doctor, and playwright active in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel The Master and Margarita, which has been called one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.

Early Life

Bulgakov was born in Kiev, then part of the Russian Empire, into a family of intellectuals. His father, Afanasiy Bulgakov, was a professor at the Kiev Theological Academy, and his mother, Varvara Mikhailovna, was a teacher. Bulgakov was the eldest of seven children.

Education and Medical Career

Bulgakov studied medicine at the Kiev University, graduating in 1916. He served as a physician during World War I and later worked as a doctor in various rural locations. His experiences as a doctor during the Russian Civil War provided material for his early works, including the semi-autobiographical A Country Doctor's Notebook.

Literary Career

Bulgakov moved to Moscow in 1921, where he began his career as a writer. His early works were published in various magazines, and he quickly gained a reputation for his satirical style. His first major novel, The White Guard, was published in 1925 and later adapted into a play, The Days of the Turbins, which was well-received.

The Master and Margarita

Bulgakov's most famous work, The Master and Margarita, was written during the 1930s but was not published until 1966, long after his death. The novel is a complex, multi-layered narrative that combines elements of fantasy, romance, and political satire. It is set in both contemporary Moscow and ancient Jerusalem and features a visit by the Devil to the Soviet Union.

Personal Life

Bulgakov was married three times. His first marriage was to Tatiana Lappa in 1913, but they divorced in 1924. He then married Lyubov Belozerskaya in 1925, but this marriage also ended in divorce. His third marriage was to Elena Shilovskaya in 1932, who remained with him until his death.

Death and Legacy

Bulgakov died on 10 March 1940 from nephrosclerosis, a condition he had suffered from for many years. Despite facing censorship and political repression during his lifetime, his works have since gained widespread recognition and acclaim. The Master and Margarita is now considered one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, and his other works continue to be studied and performed.

Related Pages

• The Master and Margarita
• The White Guard
• Russian literature
• Soviet Union
• Moscow
• Kiev