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Set against the backdrop of the Ukrainian War of Independence, this novel follows a Kyiv family navigating the chaos and turmoil of their time. Mikhail Bulgakov, known for his multifaceted career as a writer and medical doctor, weaves a compelling narrative that explores themes of loyalty, conflict, and the impact of war on personal lives. First published in 1925, it reflects the historical complexities of early 20th-century Ukraine through rich character development and vivid storytelling.

Mikhail Bulgakov's adaptation of Cervantes' classic novel offers a theatrical and deeply personal interpretation, showcasing his unique vision. This edition is translated into English for the first time by acclaimed translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, alongside playwright Richard Nelson, who brings his award-winning expertise to the project. The collaboration promises to highlight the richness and complexity of the original work while making it accessible to a new audience.

Charts the life of the French playwright - Moliere - from humble beginnings to later theatrical triumphs and political controversies.

The career of Mikhail Bulgakov, the author of Master and Margarita - now regarded as one of the masterpieces of twentieth-century literature - was characterized by a constant and largely unsuccessful struggle against state censorship. This suppression did not only apply to his art: in 1926 his personal diary was seized by the authorities. From then on he confined his thoughts to letters to his friends and family, as well as to public figures such as Stalin and his fellow Soviet writer Gorky, while also encouraging his wife Yelena to keep a diary, with many entries influenced or even dictated by him. This ample selection from the diaries and letters of the Bulgakovs, mostly translated for the first time into English, provides an insightful glimpse into a fascinating period of Russian history and literature, telling the tragic tale of the fate of an artist under a totalitarian regime.

"There is absolutely no necessity to learn how to read; meat smells a mile off, anyway. Nevertheless, if you live in Moscow and have a brain in your head, you'll pick up reading willy-nilly, and without attending any courses. Out of the forty thousand or so Moscow dogs, only a total idiot won't know how to read the word 'sausage'." When a stray dog dying on the streets of Moscow is taken in by a wealthy professor, he is subjected to medical experiments in which he receives various transplants of human organs. As he begins to transform into a rowdy, unkempt human by the name of Poligraf Poligrafovich Sharikov, his actions distress the professor and those surrounding him, although he finds himself accepted into the ranks of the Soviet state. A parodic reworking of the Frankenstein myth and a vicious satire of the Communist revolution and the concept of the New Soviet man, A Dog's Heart was banned by the censors in 1925 and circulated only in samizdat form. Nowadays this hugely entertaining tale has become very popular in Russia, and has inspired many adaptations across the world.

In Bulgakov's 'Diaboliad', the modest and unassuming office clerk Korotkov is summarily sacked for a trifling error from his job at the Main Central Depot of Match Materials, and tries to seek out his newly assigned superior, responsible for his dismissal. His quest through the labyrinth of Soviet bureaucracy takes on the increasingly surreal dimensions of a nightmare. This early satirical story, reminiscent of Gogol and Dostoevsky, was first published in 1924 and incurred the wrath of pro-Soviet critics. Along with the three other stories in this volume, which also explore the themes of the absurd and bizarre, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the artistic development of the author of The Master and Margarita.

Using a sharply realistic and humorous style, Bulgakov reveals his doubts about his own competence and the immense burden of responsibility, as he deals with a superstitious and poorly educated people struggling to enter the modern age. This acclaimed collection represents some of Bulgakov's most personal and insightful observations on youth, isolation and progress.

When Soviet censors approved Mikhail Bulgakov's Дон Кихот, a stage adaptation of Don Quixote, they were unaware that they were sanctioning a subtle but powerful criticism of Stalinist rule. The author, whose novel Мастер и Маргарита would eventually bring him world renown, achieved this sleight of hand through a deft interpretation of Cervantes's knight. Bulgakov's Don Quixote fits comfortably into the nineteenth-century Russian tradition of idealistic, troubled intellectuals, but Quixote's quest becomes an allegory of the artist under the strictures of Stalin's regime. Bulgakov did not live to see the play performed: it went into production in 1940, only months after his death.The volume's introduction provides background for Bulgakov's adaptation and compares Bulgakov with Cervantes and the twentieth-century Russian work with the seventeenth-century Spanish work.

Set against the backdrop of the waning Russian Civil War, the narrative follows a small group of Russian refugees as they journey from Crimea to Constantinople and finally to Paris. This tragic comedy captures their struggles and resilience amidst chaos, reflecting the broader disintegration of the White Army. Despite its poignant themes and rich character development, the play was never performed during Bulgakov's lifetime due to Stalin's opposition, adding a layer of historical significance to its story.

Mikhail Bulgakov's stage adaptation of Don Quixote serves as a nuanced critique of Stalinist rule, cleverly disguised under the approval of Soviet censors. The introduction offers insightful context about Bulgakov's work, drawing parallels between his interpretation and Cervantes' original, while also exploring the contrasts between the two eras. This analysis enriches the reader's understanding of the adaptation's deeper themes and its place within both Russian literature and historical commentary.