Bulgakov: A Dog's Heart

De: Mikhail Bulgakov

Narrado por: Roy McMillan

When a respected surgeon decides to transplant human body parts into a stray dog, he creates a monster - drunken, profligate, aggressive and selfish. It seems the worst aspects of the donor have been transplanted as well. As his previously well-regulated home descends into riotous chaos, the doctor realises he will have to try to reverse the operation; but the dog isn't so keen....

Wild, uproarious and deliriously comic, Bulgakov's short novel is at once a comment on the problems of 1920s Russia and a lasting satire on human nature.

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2010 Naxos Audiobooks

Enloyable read

This is am enjoyable commentary on the human heart, condition and communism wrapped in a creative and interesting story. The performance is fabulous.

Fantastic reading of a very funny book

I really enjoyed this a lot. The book is very funny, and the narrator makes it especially so. It's Moscow in the 1920s, the communist dictatorship is still ramping up, but it's not yet Stalin's time and people are adjusting to the new regime. There is fun satire of these early days of Soviet communism, although the most biting satire is of the human "heart." If I knew how to reach the narrator, I'd write to him to thank him for such an enjoyable performance.

Science fiction/fantasy/ marked political themes

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes Excellent story and rendition of same

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bulgakov: A Dog's Heart?

The transformation of the dog Furball into a man

Any additional comments?

German literature gave us Kafka's The Metamorphosis, English lit gave us Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Russian literature gave us this superb, but lesser known tale. The plot lines all have transformation in them, man turns into bug, man discovers and is overtaken by his evil side, grateful, nice dog turns into mean,ungrateful man. The deeper themes are noteworthy as well, respectfully family relations and isolation; good vs evil; and marked political themes.
All these stories are short and deserve our attention. Longer novels of the genre include Frankenstein , man-vs nature and society isolating man themes; Dracula with its sexual subtext; and Island of Dr. Moreau with its political and religious themes.

Good stuff!

Yes, Audible, I did rather enjoy this book. The voice work is wonderful! Such dynamic range of vocal work. Only the doctors were hard to establish.

I love dogs so that primarily why I purchased this. While it is about a dog, it is really an interesting listen for other aspects. Not something I'd recommend to everyone but definitely something I'm glad I listened to.

Great whacky book

I read this book first and it was good but listening to it was way better!

A fine piece of art!

A fine piece of art - delivers a serious (satirical) message about the state of the Russian Revolution circa 1925 as well as being an excellent, entertaining free-standing story. Would suggest reading a history of the novel prior to reading to help put it in context - without knowing the date of publication, subsequent manuscript seizure by the Soviet secret police, and prevention of publication until 1968, the novel may seem less meaningful.

As well as being a wonderful satire of the Russian Revolution, this story is also another take on the Prometheus mythology, and can be seen to be related to the Faustus story.

Performance is wonderful - just to hear his rendition of the dog howl is worth the price of admission.

Well worth the read.

Mike

Strangeness

It is such a strange story, but I loved this book! It was so interesting. I did struggle with the Russian names. I couldn't always remember who was who.

This book is hilarious

Would you consider the audio edition of Bulgakov: A Dog's Heart to be better than the print version?

It is an unfair comparison to say that the audio edition of Bulgakov: A Dog's Heart is better than the print version. They are different medium with their own strengths and weaknesses. I will say that Roy McMillan's characters that populated this book REALLY enhanced my enjoyment of this book. His performance adds a layer of sophistication and taste not easily or often seen in adaptations.

What did you like best about this story?

It is a good story, with an authentic voice. Many people do not like Bulgakov because of how he lived. I like him because of what he wrote.

What about Roy McMillan’s performance did you like?

Roy McMillan has to create a lot of characters: Furball, Philip Philipovich, Zenaida, Schwonder and many more. All have their own point of view and conflicts that make for great satire and good history.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Anytime Furball argues with Philip Philipovich, that is pure gold.

Any additional comments?

This story and this writer is often overlooked. But he is really funny. Give it a chance.

Fun and interesting

This is a very clever and insightful story that is really about the hypocrisy of life in the early Soviet Union, and the inability of man to create a communist utopia. The surface story is about a cultured surgeon who transplants the pituitary gland of a good-for-nothing human who dies (presumably of alchoholism) into a mongrel dog. The dog starts to take on human characteristics--but not those the doctor expects. (This echos another book I just read which involves early Soviet fascination with hair-brained scientific/medical research into things like eternal life.)

The book is very funny, and the narrator is pitch perfect for all of the voices, especially the dog.

power to the people. ..power to the dog.

We hear so much about power to the people. But can you take a dog and give him power and responsibly?
I think this is a satire on giving power to someome which they haven't the natural ability to handle. Once they have it what do they do with it? Read the Heart of the Dog and find out. Them read your newspaper and think about our educational system. Maybe one day we will understand how important the family is in making responsible people rather than systems or industries.