The fate of Mikhail Afanasevich Bulgakov (1891–1940), one of the most prominent Russian writers of the first half of the 20th century, is dramatic. His early stories and feuilletons have been published in various newspapers and magazines since the early 1920s. The novel ‘White Guard’ began to be published in the ‘Russia’ magazine in 1925, but was not published completely due to the magazine’s closure. During his lifetime, Bulgakov saw only one book published – “The Diaboliade”, published in 1925. It consisted of short stories and novels, including “The Fatal Eggs” and “The Diaboliade”. Both of these rare editions are kept in the museum funds.
The manuscript of his third novel, Heart of a Dog, was seized in 1926, after which Bulgakov never saw any more of his works published. “Let them know… let them know…” he said on his deathbed about his unpublished books. His wife Elena Bulgakova, who never left his side, wrote down his wish.
After his death, the same tragedy seemed to haunt his literary legacy. His wife did everything she could to help The Master and Margarita and other unpublished works see the light of day. After his death, she wrote a letter to Stalin, but to no avail. It took seven attempts before The Master and Margarita was finally published.
The correspondence between Fedin and Elena Bulgakova tells the story of the Master’s return to readers. It started shortly after Bulgakov’s death: just two days after his departure, on 12 March 1940, Fedin sent Elena a letter of his sincere condolences. Two weeks later, she found the strength to reply and thanked Fedin for his “warm-hearted letter” on 29 March. Over the next 25 years, Fedin continued to correspond with her, trying to help her get Bulgakov’s books printed. But it wasn’t until 1966 that the writer made a real comeback, when Moskva started serializing The Master and Margarita in its 11th issue.
Elena Bulgakova sent a copy of the magazine to Fedin, who wrote her a letter on 26 December, wishing her a Happy New Year and thanking her for sending him a copy of Moskva, adding: “May you keep your inexhaustible energy, which has contributed so greatly to everything you have done, and continue to do, to perpetuate the glorious memory of Mikhail Bulgakov”.
The manuscript of his third novel, Heart of a Dog, was seized in 1926, after which Bulgakov never saw any more of his works published. “Let them know… let them know…” he said on his deathbed about his unpublished books. His wife Elena Bulgakova, who never left his side, wrote down his wish.
After his death, the same tragedy seemed to haunt his literary legacy. His wife did everything she could to help The Master and Margarita and other unpublished works see the light of day. After his death, she wrote a letter to Stalin, but to no avail. It took seven attempts before The Master and Margarita was finally published.
The correspondence between Fedin and Elena Bulgakova tells the story of the Master’s return to readers. It started shortly after Bulgakov’s death: just two days after his departure, on 12 March 1940, Fedin sent Elena a letter of his sincere condolences. Two weeks later, she found the strength to reply and thanked Fedin for his “warm-hearted letter” on 29 March. Over the next 25 years, Fedin continued to correspond with her, trying to help her get Bulgakov’s books printed. But it wasn’t until 1966 that the writer made a real comeback, when Moskva started serializing The Master and Margarita in its 11th issue.
Elena Bulgakova sent a copy of the magazine to Fedin, who wrote her a letter on 26 December, wishing her a Happy New Year and thanking her for sending him a copy of Moskva, adding: “May you keep your inexhaustible energy, which has contributed so greatly to everything you have done, and continue to do, to perpetuate the glorious memory of Mikhail Bulgakov”.
