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You need quite the grasp of the 1930s Soviet Era to understand the many references, nuances, and devastating satire of the book; and preferably a commentary, provided conveniently at the end, in order to see the meaning behind the plays on words in Russian, as well as the meanings behind the Russian names. If you have these, this is a satirical book of amazing depth, insight, razor sharp wit, and a takedown of the idea of creating the perfect 'Soviet Citizen,' devoid of personal want or vice. I give it four stars because it is relatively inaccessible to an audience unfamiliar to the timeframe, and without the commentary on the Russian plays on words, I would have missed out on some crucial bits along the way. In conclusion, it is not nearly so accessible as Heart of a Dog, the other Bulgalov book I've read thus far, but this is clearly his masterpiece, even if he did not have the chance to finish it.