"A poet "Homeless" and a magazine editor,Berlioz, are having a conversation, in a Moscow park,just before the start of the second world war. Drinking sodas,discussing business, ordinary right? That's the last time in the novel.An apparition appears and a seven foot transparent man, is seen floating above their heads.But only Berlioz spots it.He's obviously sick... Later a foreign stranger, joins them on the next bench.They start a conversation about Jesus, if he really existed.The newcomer,a self described black magic expert, tells the others, he saw Pontius Pilate and Jesus, personally ! Naturally his companions, look at him with a little disbelief.Professor Woland,( the name is discovered afterwards)must be a spy or crazy. Either way,authorities should be contacted. Tragic results follow soon after.A wild chase through city streets ensues. Weirdest of all, a giant black tom cat ,who walks on two legs, and tries to get on a streetcar but the heartless conductor,says no cats, refuses entry.But Behemoth , the cat, does manage to get on the streetcar. They're very intelligent animals. What the devil is going on ? The professor and his entourage, give the best magic show,on stage,ever seen in Moscow.Too bad you missed it! Meanwhile a married woman,Margarita, having an affair with an author,who is writing a novel.She calls him "Master".You guessed right ,the book , its about Pontius Pilate. Mirroring Bulgakov's life,the manuscript is banned.Many funny adventures follow, involving flying and the destruction of property.Men disappear,strange events happen all around the city....The highlight is Satan's Ball,presided by Margarita,as the Queen,attended mostly by the dead. Eerie, to say the least. A dream like, melancholic atmosphere permeates. Flamboyant, imaginative fable,a real classic."
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Henry (5 out of 5 stars)