Bulgakov Mikhail Afanasevich was born in 1891, May 3 (15). He was born in Kiev. Parents of the future writer - Varvara Mikhailovna (maiden name Pokrovskaya), a teacher, after - an inspector in courses for women. Father is also a teacher, worked at the Kiev Theological Academy. Michael became the eldest son in a large family, in which cultural traditions were very strong. Bulgakov’s work, as well as his biography, we will describe in this article.
Studying at the gymnasium, passion for theater, literature, marriage
His training took place first in the Kiev gymnasium. The future writer finished it with only two excellent marks - according to God's law and geography. At this time he was fond of theater (he knew, for example, “Aida” and “Faust” by heart), reads “with rapture” by Saltykov-Shchedrin and Gogol, the first works that marked Bulgakov’s work also appeared.
In 1907 his father died. In 1913, Mikhail Afanasevich married T.N. Lappe.
Work as a doctor
The period from 1916 to 1917 - graduation from Kiev University, in which he studied at the Faculty of Medicine. Exempted from the draft due to illness, the author we are interested in travels to the zemstvo hospital by appointment. This institution was located in the village of Nikolskoye (Smolensk province). And after a while he goes to Vyazma. "Notes of a Young Doctor" were written based on impressions received during this period.
Medical practice in Kiev
In 1918, Bulgakov returned to Kiev, where he made attempts to engage in medical practice (private - as a freelance venereologist). At this time, according to the testimony of the writer himself, he was consistently called up as a doctor to the service of all the authorities that occupied the city. However, Bulgakov managed to evade both the Red Army and the Petliurites who "mobilized" him.
Military service, professional literature
In 1919-1920 the following events took place in the life of the writer. Mikhail Afanasevich was "mobilized" by Denikins and sent to the North Caucasus with a train. Here he began to engage in literature professionally: at that time the first stories appeared in the newspapers of Vladikavkaz and Grozny, which reflected sympathy for the White movement, the abdication of Nicholas II as "historical misfortune", etc. He participates as a doctor in battles. The Denikinites, retreating under the pressure of the Red Army, threw Bulgakov, a patient with typhus, to their own devices, which served as the basis for disappointment in these "comrades in arms." Mikhail Afanasevich begins with the advent of the Reds to work in the arts department. His activity consisted of reports on Chekhov and Pushkin, writing for the local theater of plays, one of which, under the name "Paris Communards", he even sent to Moscow, hoping for success in the competition announced in this city.
Moving to Moscow
In 1921, Mikhail Afanasevich came to Moscow, where he joined the literary department of the People's Commissariat for employment as a secretary. In search of money from the beginning of NEP, he often changes his place of service: he works as a chronicle editor in a private newspaper, entertainer, engineer, etc. At the same time, he settles on Sadovaya, in the communal apartment of the house that once belonged to a tobacco manufacturer. Many times the mores of apartment No. 50 will appear in various works that make up Bulgakov’s work.
In 1922, Mikhail Afanasevich was actively published in the press - in such magazines as “Shout”, “Worker”, “Red Magazine for All”, “Railwayman”, “Zheleznodorozhnik”, “Krasnaya Niva”, etc.
Collaboration at Hooter, new works and new marriages
The period from 1922 to 1926 was cooperation with a newspaper called Gudok, and it was also published on the Eve in a Berlin Russian newspaper, the editor of which was A. N. Tolstoy, who had not yet returned from exile.
The life and work of Bulgakov in 1923-1924 will be represented by the following two main events. In 1923, the novel "Notes on Cuffs" appeared. The following year, Mikhail Afanasevich meets with L. Ye. Belozerskaya, who returned from exile to Paris, marries her.
In 1925, Bulgakov’s work continued. Appears "Devil" - the first collection, consisting of satirical stories. Then comes the storybook entitled "Fatal Eggs." This year was also marked by the creation of the manuscript of “Dog’s Heart” - a work that was published only 60 years later.
Search Bulgakov
In May 1926, employees of the OGPU conducted a search of Bulgakov, seized the above manuscript, as well as diaries. The writer, repeatedly asking to return these materials to him and not receiving any response to these requests, states that he will soon be forced to withdraw from the All-Russian Writers Union in a pointed manner. After this, the paper, including the manuscript of “Dog’s Heart”, was returned to Bulgakov.
Works of 1925-1928
In the years 1925-1926 a series of "Stories" was published, as well as a collection of stories called "Notes of a Young Doctor".
The following events relate to the period from 1925 to 1927. The novel "The White Guard" was created. Based on his motives, in 1926 the play "Turbine Days" was written and staged, which premiered at the Moscow Art Theater at the same time.
From 1926 to 1928, Mikhail Bulgakov, whose life and work is presented in our article, writes a play called "Running", which only in 1957 saw the viewer.
In 1926, the play "Zoykina Apartment" was also created, which was staged at the Vakhtangov Theater. Together with Turbine Days, it was soon removed due to pressure from tendentious criticism.
In 1928 - another work for the theater ("Crimson Island"). It was staged by the Chamber Theater in the same year, however, this time the play was banned almost immediately.
Evaluation of Bulgakov's work by literary criticism
Literary criticism of the late 1920s evaluated Mikhail Bulgakov's work sharply negatively. His works were not printed, were not played on stage. For example, Stalin’s negative reviews about the play “Running,” which, from his point of view, is an “anti-Soviet phenomenon,” are known. The leader called "Crimson Island" called "Waste Paper". The result of the bullying is Bulgakov, whose biography and work were often noted by the negative consequences of contact with the Soviet government, remains without work and, accordingly, without money, writes a letter to the “Government of the USSR” and sends it to seven addresses of various government agencies. Trying to understand his future fate, he explains in a letter his authorial position, saying that he prefers the Great Revolution to the Great Evolution, that is, the more natural, in his opinion, gradual course of history. On April 18, Stalin himself phoned Mikhail Afanasevich’s apartment, and as a result of this conversation, the writer was promised to provide work at the Moscow Art Theater. An unspoken condition of the agreement was the creation of a praising leader of the work. Later, in 1939, a play was written under the name "Batum", which tells about the "young years of the leader." However, neither the content of it, nor the tone of the narrative of the authorities satisfied.
Work at the Moscow Art Theater
With the beginning of work at the Moscow Art Theater, the life and work of Bulgakov changed significantly. Since the beginning of the 1930s, Mikhail Afanasevich has held the position of assistant director in this theater. The passion for Shilovskaya Elena Sergeevna (1929), which later became his wife, dates from this period of his life.
In 1931, the play "Adam and Eve" appeared. During this, and also next year, he writes a staging of Tolstoy’s work “War and Peace” commissioned by the Bolshoi Drama Theater. However, this performance was not staged.
In 1932, a staging of Gogol's "Dead Souls" appeared. Returned to the viewer (by personal order of Comrade Stalin) "Turbine Days".
In 1930-1936, a drama entitled "The Cabal of the Holy One" was created, staged in 1943. This was preceded by work on "The Life of Monsieur de Moliere," a biographical short story, in 1932-1933. It was published in 1962.
Another play, Bliss, was released in 1934 (published only in 1966).
In the years 1934-1935. a drama entitled "The Last Days", set on stage in 1943, appears. At first it was conceived in collaboration with V.V. Veresaev.
Bulgakov refuses "alterations"
The period from 1934 to 1936 was marked by the following events. Bulgakov’s play “Ivan Vasilievich” appears. This work brought to the final rehearsals at the Satire Theater was filmed literally on the eve of the premiere. For the period from 1928 to 1936, the writer did not have a single thing printed, and not a single play appeared on the stage of the theater, representing M.A.'s original work. Bulgakov. Mikhail Afanasevich stubbornly refuses the “alterations” prompted to him (for example, “reforging” a white officer from the piece “Running”, ending with the revolutionary choir song “Crimson Island”, etc.).
Recent works
In the years 1936-1937 was created "Theatrical novel" (unfinished work). It was published in 1965.
Bulgakov in 1938 creates a play called Don Quixote. From the beginning of the 1930s to the end of his life he continued to work on his most famous work, which is now addressed first of all, studying Bulgakov’s work - “The Master and Margarita”.
Mikhail Afanasevich in 1940 died in Moscow from a kidney disease, which was hereditary in his family (passed on to the writer from his father).
Thus ends the life and work of M. Bulgakov, now a recognized classic of Russian literature.