Anyone ever read this book? If so, what did you think?
For me one of my top 5 reads so far in my life.
>>8990667
For a highschool class.
I don't get it. It was alright, but I don't see why it's so universally beloved.
My (admittedly atheistic) traditionalism may have soured me to the premise and to the treatment of Jesus. Was the point of those chapters to invert and show a non-miraculous Jerusalem where miracles would be invented and a miraculous present where miracles would be ignored- suggesting... something?
Still, it was the only decent book from the Soviet semester. Fucking Reds.
Nah, I've spent a couple years trying to decide which translation to read.
>>8990702
You don't get it because you read a bad translation, which is why I'm at a standstill right now.
>>8990793
jeez louise, you could've learned russian by now
it was pretty good, I wasn't familiar with Faust or deeply familiar with the Bible, so I felt left out... my copy has like 40 pages at the back dedicated to explaining the harder references, I really liked the Pilate chapters and the ending. Still, I'm a pleb.
>>8990667
I watched this, does that count?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t6W9hkXV6g
>>8990702
Set in Moscow under Stalin and in Jerusalem under Pilate, it has several story-lines where history, religion and politics are intertwined. The sacrifices of Master (Galibin), a talented author of a manuscript about the biblical Pontius Pilate, and Master's muse - Margarita (Kovalchuk), are paralleled by the biblical story of Ieshua in Ierushalaim, and the deceit of the cowardly ambiguous Pilate (Lavrov), whose character alludes to a Soviet leader. The reality is distorted by Satan Woland (Basilashvili), and his lieutenants, who are manipulating public events and people's lives by pushing the buttons of human weaknesses and sins. Margarita taps into Woland's power, trying to save Master. The character of Master is autobiographical, burning of his manuscript alludes to what Bulgakov himself did under threats from the Soviet authorities.
Its great, I read everything else he wrote after this and if has its moments but is nothing compared to MM. Everything is just good clean fun and hijinks with the devil and his good friends.
I'm reading the Richard Pevear, Larissa Volokhonsky translation. Is this a good version?
>>8992543
I've read one by Michael Glenny and a few excerpts of P&V, but I prefer Glenny
>>8992543
P&V is good for your layman but pseuds generally dislike them.