Mikhail Bulgakov Manuscripts dont burn exterior of the

Mikhail Bulgakov ‘Manuscripts don’t burn’

exterior of the Bulgakov House Museum in Moscow

Mihkhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov (1891 -1940)

Master and Margarita • Since its publication in 1966 -67, Bulgakov suddenly became and remained popular both in the USSR and abroad, after being virtually ignored for ¼ century by most. • Lacunae in Bulgakov’s biography were filled partially by autobiographic elements in his fiction.

Bulgakov’s home in Kiev (1906 -21)

A very short biography • Born in Kiev, eldest of 7 children • Father, professor of divinity at Kiev Theological Academy, cousin of well-known writer and philosopher Sergei Bulgakov; welleducated mother • Unhesitating belief in God and Russian tradition was part of family life • Loved theatre from his youth; started reading Gogol from age 9 (a lifelong influence)

• His stay in Kiev coincided with the most troubled time in the city’s life (Nicholas II – Central Rada/Ukrainian Peoples’ Republic – Bolsheviks – Germans – Pavel Skoropad’sky (Hetman of All Ukraine) – Petliura’s Ukrainian Nationalists – Bolsheviks – Denikin’s Whites – Bolsheviks, etc. )

• In 1919 goes back to the front (south); in 1921 moves to Moscow • Writes White Guard (1923), satirical tale Diaboliad (1924), satirical piece The Fatal Eggs (1925), Heart of a Dog (1925) • In 1930 goes abroad temporarily; sends letter to Soviet government; receives a call from Stalin

• Days of the Turbiny (play connected to White Guard) back on the repertory in Moscow Art Theatre, kept on till 1941, when the Moscow Art Theatre was on tour in Minsk, and all props and sets were burned during Nazi bombardment • 1934 health begins to fail; more plays, books premiered, banned, rejected; works as Bolshoi Opera librettist • 1938 finishes 6 th version of Master and Margarita; dies in 1940, Novodevich’e cemetery

2012 -13 British TV series based on Bulgakov’s story collection (written 1920 s)

Bulgakov in the 20 s, with the inadvisable monocle

Stanislavski's production of Bulgakov's Days of the Turbins (1926 Moscow premiere)

Bulgakov in 1936, wearing his Master’s skullcap, with his 3 rd wife Elena, the inspiration for Margarita

Eric Laursen, ‘Bad Words Are Not Allowed, ’ SEEJ, 2007 ‘The bourgeois Professor Preobrazhensky and his Communist nemesis Comrade Shvonder begin separate campaigns to transform the dogman into what each believes a fully-formed human being should be. ‘ How would they do that, and what, do you think, is likely to happen?