THE MASTER AND MARGARITA

First edition, first impression. Collins Harvill hardcover. First UK printing of the original Russian- first printing in English. Copyright page states 1967, with no statement of later printing. Translated by Michael Glenny with jacket design by Alex Jawdokimov. A landmark work of 20th century fiction. 

Not price clipped which makes it even more highly sought after

Condition: Very good. Near fine clean and tight binding. No fading to the striking cover image by Jawdokimov. Some slight discolouration on the back only. Foxing first few pages and fore edges only. Tear near the fold of the inside front flap. Grit or some other obstruction caused an indentation up to page 15. Clear tape applied to the top and bottom of the spine which requires professional restoration/removal. Original Juta's bookshop gilt label. No inscriptions. Covered in a glassine wrapper.

Binding: Green cloth on board with gilded spine

Mikhail Bulgakov (1891-1940) was known primarily as a playwright in his lifetime, his early work was banned under Stalin's regime so he was constantly fighting to avoid becoming destitute. He spent a great deal of his short life working on his master stroke The Master and Margarita which was published posthumously, 26 years after his death. Bulgakov had to rewrite the novel from memory after he burned the draft manuscript in 1930, as he could not see a future as a writer in the Soviet Union at a time of widespread political repression resulting in an unprecedented number of assassinations. 

The novel is a masterpiece of surreal fiction and a biting critique of society under the Soviet regime. According to Wikipedia: The novel begins with Satan visiting Moscow in the 1930s, joining a conversation between a critic and a poet debating the most effective method of denying the existence of Jesus Christ. It develops into an all-embracing indictment of the corruption of communism and Soviet Russia. A story within the story portrays the interrogation of Jesus Christ by Pontius Pilate and the Crucifixion. The book contributed a number of sayings to the Russian language, for example, "Manuscripts don't burn" and "second-grade freshness". A destroyed manuscript of the Master is an important element of the plot.