The White Guard, by Mikhail Bulgakov

Another great work from master Bulgakov, with super translation rendered by Michael Glenny.

It is about what happened to the Turbin family in Kiev, 1918, a time of revolution, turmoil and civil war. Although in a very different style from Master and Margarita, this novel also demonstrates Bulgakov's genies. The writing is modern, dense, but the magic of Bulgakov (and Glenny) is as before.

This novel seems to be an extension of the play The Days of the Turbins*, and I can clearly see the stage elements from the events happened inside the Turbin's home. However, this does not harm the novel. In fact, after back from the uncertain, panic city, and the bloody, cruel battlefield, the stage-like home gives me a particular feeling of warmness -- like the last harbor in the world -- although not physically safe, it is the bond between family members and friendship among friends that makes it unconquerable.
[*In his introduction to The Heart of a Dog, Michael Glenny said that the novel was published first, and then Pavel Markov suggested and helped Bulgakov to turn the story into a play. 9/5/2009]

From 1926 to 1941, "the play ran for 987 performances", with total audience of at least 1 million. And among them was Stalin, who saw it no less than 15 times. I can understand what brings people to it again and again. It touches something essential about family, friends, human to human, warm and also sad. The theme is touched in such a way that your deep heart feels it, but you can't catch it, say it -- it is not revealed directly. This is also one of the great charms in Master and Margarita.

Bulgakov also did a great job in describing the panic and chaos of the city, and bloody battle scenes. I am not a particular fan of the war novel, but I am very impressed by Bulgakov's battle scenes, which is Superior than Quiet Flows the Don (vol 1) and Gone with the wind.

The book I read is a paperback published by Academy Chicago Publishers, ISBN 0897332466. Thanks for the publisher to keep Michael Glenny's translation in print. I read several paragraphs of the new translation by Marian Schwartz, published by Yale University Press, ISBN-13 978-0300151459 (ISBN-10 0300151454). Although new translations are always welcome for such a masterpiece, Schwartz's translation lacks the beauty and charm of Glenny.

The cover art is also worth mentioning. White and sketched man, dark horse, and blood ground. It looks like the weight of these elements is not rightly set up, but it indeed fits the mood of the book very well.