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The Master and Margarita  By  cover art

The Master and Margarita

By: Mikhail Bulgakov
Narrated by: Julian Rhind-Tutt
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Publisher's summary

The Devil comes to Moscow, but he isn't all bad; Pontius Pilate sentences a charismatic leader to his death, but yearns for redemption; and a writer tries to destroy his greatest tale, but discovers that manuscripts don't burn. Multi-layered and entrancing, blending sharp satire with glorious fantasy, The Master and Margarita is ceaselessly inventive and profoundly moving. In its imaginative freedom and raising of eternal human concerns, it is one of the world's great novels.

Public Domain (P)2009 Naxos Audiobooks

Featured Article: Essential Russian Authors to Know in Audio


Don’t be daunted by the towering reputations of Russia’s literary giants. Listening is the perfect way to appreciate the masters. Russia is a sprawling country with a rich and complex history, which is reflected in its literature. Whether you’re keen on brushing up on classic Russian literature or you want to find a new author to explore, we’ve rounded up 13 of the best Russian authors, classic and contemporary, whose work you should know.

Editor's Pick

From Russia with love
I recently deep-dived on Russian classics for our editors’ podcast, Audicted, focusing on Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. But guess what? Those heavy-hitters aren’t nearly as beloved back home as Bulgakov, and this book is widely considered the country’s favorite novel. I didn’t know anything could make me love Russian literature more, but that did it. This hallucinatory satire of 1930s Stalinist Moscow, in which the devil and his entourage come to town to raise hell, includes a gun-toting cat, a fascinating imagining of Pontius Pilate, and exquisite narration by Julian Rhind-Tutt. If you’re looking for what one reviewer calls 'a complete acid trip of a novel', your search ends here. —Kat J., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Master and Margarita

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A Delightful Romp

A truly original fantasy. It is a lot like Alice in Wonderland for adults. I loved it! Julian, the reader was wonderful.

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Is cowardice the biggest sin?

One of the best novels of the 20th century..well written. It touches so many aspects of humanity and what means to be human..

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Entertaining but confusing

this was a very good story over all, but I found it quite hard to follow.

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Narrator was great!

This is a classic but difficult story to follow. It’s full of lengthy Russian names and locations where in some cases first and surnames are switched for another character. The narrator did a wonderful job with a myriad of character voices.

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Surrealism at its pinnacle

This book is a ride on a surrealistic rollercoaster. The plot is complex but extremely captivating. The characters... oh! Don't get me started on the characters! Just listen... #Magical #Moscow #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

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Humanity is ubiquitous.

The narrator captured for me the feelings of the persons caught up in this fantastical tale. Even in extraordinary circumstances, the characters cannot escape those traits that make us all human. I haven't had so much fun with a book in such a long time.

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One of the best books I've read in months.

No downside to this novel. If you can handle the bizarre happenings throughout it, just sit back and enjoy a wonderful ride.

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Thoroughly enjoyed the playful yet intellectual nature of this book!

Excellent book for lovers of history, Russia, occult and playful humor. I suggest this to all my friends that have an interest in Russian literature.

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Bulgakov at his best!

An excellent performance of a wonderful novel! I loved every minute of the story and the narration.

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Amazingly rich and deep

This book is a world on its own, worth re-reading and obsessing over its content. One really needs to know the history and context of Soviet Union in order to understand the great sense of humor of this book. While reading I felt motivated to go online and decipher the meaning of many stories and symbols used throughout the text, which only made me appreciate it even more.
Plus the audio is great quality, and great portrayal of many absurd and funny characters.

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