Recensies

Review: Diaboliad, and other stories

Redactionele recensie - Kirkus Reviews

An important sampling of the late Russian author's early output from the 1920's -- short stories and sketches mainly of satiric fantasies about frenetically multiplying bureaucracies, enterprising dodgers of official inanities, and an upstart humanity overgrown with capricious cruelties. In ""Diaboliad,"" one of the then-popular forms of anti-hero, a very minor civil servant, richochets through double and repeating identities in a nightmare of officialese -- papers, rooms, doors, and Bulgakov's specialty -- the persistent odor of sulphur. In ""The Fatal Egg"" giant serpents are visited upon the citizenry as the State marches on Science. In ""The Elpit-Rabkommen Building"" a noisy, destructive proletariat takes over a former luxury apartment house, and, symbolically, ruins the systems and mechanical functions which might have served them. There are two acutely moving stories which pass through satiric commentary to reach the dead center of man's solitary agony: a Chinese ""coolie,"" frozen into a comic stereotype, dies in battle warmed by an opium memory of a compassionate light; and a small sentry is brutally beaten and years later tells his story with calm dignity and horrible inner recognitions. Other stories deal with political and literary follies -- and there is a quiet domestic piece about loneliness and love. At a time of cultural transition literary fantasy is apt to turn inward to the grotesqueries of human consciousness while real society seems increasing outrageous to the writer. This indicates both a special and speculative fiction market.

Gebruikersrecensies

Review: Diaboliad

Gebruikersrecensie - Goodreads

I wonder if anyone of other than Slavic origin can enjoy Bulgakov's novels so much. The language and style is just amazingly witty and colourful. I read this book in Slovak and it contained also ...

Review: Diaboliad and Other Stories

Gebruikersrecensie - Abhishek Ganguly - Goodreads

Mikhail Bulgakov is a man after my own heart - crafty in explaining the human face of a story, yet not unrealistic in any line. He has definitely revived my interest is Russian writing. Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Diaboliad

Gebruikersrecensie - Tony - Goodreads

It'd be nigh on impossible to fault Bulgakov. One of those Russian writers whose name should be held in the same reverence as those other masters Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. He's as capable with these ... Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Diaboliad

Gebruikersrecensie - Ana - Goodreads

This I picked when at a friend's home, out of the sheer need to read something, because I had forgotten mine at home. I finished the book the same evening, as well as The Fatal Egg , a story by the ... Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Diaboliad and Other Stories

Gebruikersrecensie - Anosh - Goodreads

you can see the beginnings of his masterpiece "master and the margarita" in these stories. Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Diaboliad

Gebruikersrecensie - Goodreads

A short story on Russian bureaucracy, mixing Kafka with early 20st century horror/sci fi elements. Terry Gilliam could make an excellent movie out of this.

Review: Diaboliad and Other Stories

Gebruikersrecensie - Eliz Mananadhar - Goodreads

these stories didn't live upto my expectations. also, the innumerous headachy Russian references were quite a handful. i feel the translation was pretty bad too.. but bulgakov's surrealistic-meets-everyday style is praiseworthy.. Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Diaboliad

Gebruikersrecensie - Goodreads

Five stories by my favorite Russian author. Probably not the best introduction to Bulgakov, and probably much easier to understand if you've read the Gogol or Dostoyevsky that he's responding to (I ...