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A Dog's Heart
A Dog's Heart: An Appalling Story | Mikhail Bulgakov
A Dog's Heart: An Appalling Story is Mikhail Bulgakov's hilarious satire on Communist hypocrisies. This Penguin Classics edition is translated with notes by Andrew Bromfield, and includes an introduction by James Meek. In this surreal work by the author of The Master and Margarita, wealthy Moscow surgeon Filip Preobrazhensky implants the pituitary gland and testicles of a drunken petty criminal into the body of a stray dog named Sharik. As the dog slowly transforms into a man, and the man into a slovenly, lecherous government official, the doctor's life descends into chaos. A scathing indictment of the New Soviet Man, A Dog's Heart was immediately banned by the Soviet government when it was first published in 1925: alternating lucid realism with pulse-raising drama, the novel captures perfectly the atmosphere of its rapidly changing times. Andrew Bromfield's vibrant translation is accompanied by an introduction by James Meek, which places the work in the context of the Russian class struggles of the era and considers the vision, progressive style and lasting relevance of an author who was isolated and suppressed during his lifetime. This edition also contains notes and a chronology. Mikhail Bulgakov (1891-1940) was born in Kiev, today the capital of Ukraine. After finishing high school, Bulgakov entered the Medical School of Kiev University, graduating in 1916. He wrote about his experiences as a doctor in his early works Notes on Cuffs and Notes of a Young Country Doctor. His later works treated the subject of the artist and the tyrant under the guise of historical characters, but The Master and Margarita is generally considered his masterpiece. Fame, at home and abroad, was not to come until a quarter of a century after his death at Moscow in 1940. If you enjoyed A Dog's Heart, you might like Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, also available in Penguin Classics. 'One of the greatest of modern Russian writers, perhaps the greatest' Nigel Jones, Independent
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AnishaInkspill
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
Pickpick

The premise of this short novel is quirky and disturbing whilst raising some philosophical concerns on humanity, science and politics. There are subtleties here I think I missed because I don‘t know enough about the Russian Revolution and after. For now, I am left with the impression this is a very brave novel to write.

#Fiction #books #readaway2024 #eBook #translation #sciencefiction #scifi

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The_Penniless_Author
Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Pickpick

A bourgeois doctor renowned throughout Moscow for his "treatments" improving the libido of the wealthy and influential inadvertently transforms a street dog into a human when one of his experiments goes awry. Unfortunately for the doctor, his new creation turns out to be an ill-mannered drunk spouting Bolshevik propaganda and generally making a nuisance of himself. Hilarious critique of the communist revolution's hubris and hypocrisy.

Liz_M great review! 2y
48 likes1 comment
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vlwelser
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Pickpick

If you like Russian lit and haven't read this yet, it definitely gets my recommendation.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

IuliaC I enjoyed 'The Master and Margarita' by the same author 😊 2y
vlwelser @IuliaC I will have to put that on my list. Because this short one was excellent. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
33 likes1 stack add3 comments
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vlwelser
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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❤🏖📚

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yoavshai
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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#BookCoverChallenge
Day 285.
Here I will note 365 books (or as many as I will have before I get tired) that have shaped my taste in literature. No explanations, no reviews. Just the cover of the book.
I do not challenge anyone. You are all welcome to take part.

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Whalien99
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
Mehso-so

Expected so much more. 3 stars

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Eggs
Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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74 likes1 comment
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ReadosaurusText
Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Continuing on my current Bulgakov kick! In this book, a Soviet scientist transplants some organs of a Moscow criminal in a Moscow mutt, and some interesting #changes occur. Great, short allegory if you are looking for a quick, good read some afternoon. #Septembowie @Marchpane @Cinfhen

Cinfhen Well played 🙌🏻 7y
ReadosaurusText @Cinfhen Thank you! 😊 7y
34 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Oryx
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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First stop, The British Library. It actually has ALL the books. I used to study here when doing my PhD. I love it here. It has the best smell as well. I can't describe it.

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Cassandra_L
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Pickpick

Reread this after recommending it to a classmate despite not having read it since I was a teenager. God, I still love Bulgakov.

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Cassandra_L
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Turns out soylent green isn't people.

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pocketmermaid
Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Mehso-so

I ... have no idea what to make of this. But I'm glad I read (listened) to it. I was hoping for something bizarre, and it was, but it turns out I don't know nearly enough about Russian history to understand this satire. I'll have to read some lit crit and interpretation.

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Hobbinol
Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Moray_Reads Great choice! 8y
vivastory I wholeheartedly approve 8y
LeahBergen I've never read Bulgakov 😬 8y
See All 7 Comments
Hobbinol Thank you @Moray_Reads ! You've got me wagging my tail! 8y
Hobbinol @vivastory 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
Hobbinol @LeahBergen Grrrrrr! 8y
53 likes4 stack adds7 comments
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smccallum
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Pickpick

Another satire by Bulgakov that is, again, brilliant fun even with very little knowledge of Stalin's Russia. This is delightfully absurd and Bulgakov writes character's with beautifully distinct voices and I also adore how much he plays with the telling of the narrative here. Highly recommend!

BooksCatsMaine I loved this! I saw the opera when I was a student- completely surreal but I thoroughly recommend it! 8y
smccallum @BooksGirlsCats was that the one with Complicite? I've read about it and love their director! I wish I had seen it! 8y
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
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smccallum
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Some afternoon madness

Liberty I loooooove this book. 8y
44 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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smccallum
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Next on the reading list! Impulse buy after the delights of 'The Master And Margarita' so I am very excited!

49 likes2 stack adds
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TittaTatin
Cuore di cane | Michail Bulgakov
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Pickpick

In questo libro moooolto appassionante si sussegue ritmo,sarcasmo,humor,eccentricità e tenerezza.
Dalle parole di Franco Cordelli.
Consigliatissimo!!

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FaisalJ
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Pickpick

A satire of 1920s communist Russia. A famous professor does a procedure on a stray dog making it an intelligent being. The intelligent dog gets on the professor's nerves, being a loud oafish "proletariat". A lot of fun and funny in some places, it's gives you an idea of life during the early days of communism before Stalin. 9/10

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FaisalJ
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Some kind of humorous jab at the common Soviet politician.

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FaisalJ
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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I love the wording to demonstrate the hatred the professor has to his dog-human hybrid.

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FaisalJ
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
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The professor is fed up with his dog who speaks about Marxist ideology after his successful human brain transplant.

Texreader 😆😆 8y
3 likes1 comment
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Leana
The Heart of a Dog | Mikhail Bulgakov
Pickpick

Highly recommend

AlexandraKustura Great book 9y
1 like2 stack adds1 comment