The Master and the Margarita

Written by Russian dissident Mikhail Bulgakov in the final 12 years of his life, The Master and the Margarita was not published until 26 years after his death (in 1940). From 1930 on he was unable to publish at all in Russia although, strangely enough, he was allowed to produce others' plays as literary consultant to the Moscow Art Theatre. For a quick overview of his work and life, see the Wikipedia entry. The translation I read was by Mirra Ginsburg. I have to say this is not my favorite genre. Bulgakov is taking the atheist state on with a tale about the devil coming to Moscow and wreaking havoc with the lives of those who profess not to believe in either God or the devil. There are lots of plays on words, which are surely influenced strongly by the translation. There is a second story within the main one about the crucifixtion of Jesus. The devil was present and a contemporary author in Moscow, the Master, has written the story. The tale culminates with Satan's ball over which the Master's lover, Margarita, presides in the form of a beautiful witch. All the people the devil considers to have integrity (i.e., the Master and Margarita) get to go off to their own private paradise in the end. And the citizens of Moscow are left trying to make sense of the whole series of puzzling events that the devil whipped up while he and his entourage were in town. The hypocrites--again according to the devil's evaluation--all get their come-uppance.

Some stray YA books

I picked up a couple of books by well-known young adult authors at the big book sale at CML a couple of weeks ago and since I won't be submitting reviews for them to the children's lit database, I thought I would make notes about them here.
The Rogues (alternate title is Rogue's Apprentice) is apparently the 4th in a series collaboration between Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris. These are historic adventure stories set in Scotland, this particular one being centered around the Highland Clearances that took place in the 18th century. As the large landowners enjoyed the benefits of more peaceful times, they no longer needed to be able to call on their clans, usually tenant farmers, for defense. And they found that money was to be made by grazing a new breed of English sheep. Many of them drove the farmers off their land in most brutal fashion, by burning people out of the homes and off the farms that had sustained them for generations. Many went to cities and many came to the New World, i.e., America. This tale revolves around the son of one such family--Roddy Macallan-- as he throws his lot in with a bootlegger in order to try and recover a family heirloom also stolen by the laird who burned his village and tried to kill him. I enjoy historical fiction because I learn new things in a richer fashion. I never knew why there was a wave of Scottish immigration to North America, prior to reading this, or at least I didn't remember if I ever did know.
The other "oldie but goody" I read was Eoin Colfer's first in the Artemis Fowl series. Artemis is a 12-year old criminal mastermind trying to re-establish the family's ill-gotten fortune after some bad investments by his late father left them somewhat strapped for cash. His plan is to kidnap a faery and ransom him/her for gold. He is indeed brilliant and the brawn is supplied by his bodyguard manservant, Butler. But even their combined resources are no match for Holly Short, an officer in the Lower Elements Police (aka LEPrecon) once she gets her magic back. This is really a great bit of fun filled with magical characters, action, and a lot of tongue in cheek humor. I'll definitely go on to read the sequels--of which there are many.