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Fantasy Meets the Revolution.

The White Guard by Mikhail Bulgakov, written in 1924 is a semi autobiographical account of the experience of Tsarist and White officers in Ukraine during the years 1918-1919. When the Russian Civil War was in full swing. It accounts the story of the Turbin family, but namely Alexsei and his younger sister Elena and brother Nikolka as they navigate a changed and violent world.

The book was banned by the Bolsheviks and it is east to see why. The Turbins are pro monarchist, Alexesi in an ex-White officer and they recount the stories of Old Russia and live in a world where most around them dream of an independent Ukraine. Bulgakov himself was from a similar middle class (or Bourgeoisie) background as the Turbins and was also an officer surgeon in the White Army in the Civil War. The house they live in, is based on his only family home in Kiev. All of these things were unacceptable to the communist ideology of the USSR. The Master and the Margarita is a subtle critique of this society, whilst The White Guard is more stark.

This is a warts and all story of death, tragedy, love found and lost and hopes and dreams dashed. It is also the story of individuals and family, their thoughts and aims in a world of much grander visions of society and destructive events. Bulgakov has clearly drawn huge inspiration from Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace in this sense. Alexsei is much like Tolstoy’s Nihilist Prince Andrey Volkonsky, someone who is fed up with the world. Nikolka, his younger brother is like Count Petr Rostrov, the eager and enthusiastic recruit. Until they both face the reality of war.

The narrative spans less than two months in the unusually harsh winter of 1918-1919. Following the collapse of the German occupation and the abdication of the Hetman and the assault of ‘The City� (the never named city Kiev) by the Whites. In all of this the Turbins who have just welcomed Alexsei back from war try to maintain normality in their first floor apartment, whilst the world around them gets harder. Bulgakov reminds us this is neither fact or history, but an alternative world of what ‘might have been� during all of this. The literary licence seeps through the book, to take us on a tour of dreams and fantasy intermingled with sobering realistic episodes. The murder of Jews by the Whites, being hunted and shot by Bolsheviks. The cold, the hungry and suffering. But also the sense of love, family and comfort of home. These are all intertwined with poems, songs and stories of the past.

This is a great novel and I have loved each Bulgakov’s novels I had read. It’s fun and harrowing at the same time. There is action and story. There is reality and fantasy, history and fiction. It somehow works and isn’t disjointed in anyway. Bulgakov’s ultimate message however is that if you stay home with those you love, you can pull back the curtain and shut at the misery of the world, at least for a little time. Is this a good way to live? Bulgakov doesn’t say, but maybe it’ll get you to the next day.