Mikhail Afanasevich Bulgakov

Mel Dadswell (University of Exeter)
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In an autobiographical sketch written in 1924, Bulgakov claimed that his first adult writing was done on a train one night in 1919, by the light of a candle in a bottle. The resulting sketch was sold to a newspaper in Vladikavkaz, appearing as his first paid work, but Bulgakov had been writing creatively from a very early age, amusing family and friends with imaginative story telling and drama. As to his background, the story has depended on the audience being addressed. This is not surprising given that one's “class” status at the time of the Revolution could tip the scales for or against survival.

Mikhail Afanasevich Bulgakov, the eldest of seven children, was born on May 15th, 1891 in Kiev. His father, the son of a rural priest from Orel province, rose to become a professor of

4517 words

Citation: Dadswell, Mel. "Mikhail Afanasevich Bulgakov". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 December 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=634, accessed 19 March 2024.]

634 Mikhail Afanasevich Bulgakov 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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