Superbur Classici - 140: La guardia bianca

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Bulgakov's elegant first novel, recently reissued by Melville House in the Michael Glenny translation, explores the October Revolution's impact on Kiev, referred to as The City. The narrative unfolds over two pivotal days during the Russian Civil War, December 13 and 14, 1918, as Kiev transitions from the control of Ukrainian Hetman Skoropadsky, a German ally, to the forces of Petlyura, a mysterious Ukrainian nationalist. Petlyura's troops specifically target Russian officers who have supported the corrupt regime. Central to the story is the Turbin family: Alexei, a doctor returning from WWI; his 17-year-old brother Nikolai, a military cadet; and their sister Elena, who inspires Alexei's officer friends. They are accompanied by their comic neighbor, Vasily Lisovich, known as Vasilisa, a character reminiscent of Dostoevsky's creations. The novel showcases Bulgakov's dramatic flair and prose artistry, with elements like Alexei's fever dreams hinting at the surrealism of his later work, The Master and Margarita. The narrative captures the chaos of civil war while reflecting on family loyalty and friendship. Initially published as a magazine serial in 1925, the complete work faced challenges before its eventual release in 1966, while a popular play based on the story ran in Soviet Russia from 1926 to 1941.