N.R. Erdman and M.A. Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita" (1934-1940) (article 2)

The relationship between the life and work of N.R. Erdman and M.A. Bulgakov's novel "The Mas-- ter and Margarita" have not previously become the subject of special research. The attention of research-- ers is focused on the plays of Bulgakov and Erdman. Meanwhile, Erdman's personality and work, in our opinion, are important for Bulgakov and his novel. We demonstrate this point of view on the basis of a textual analysis ofBulgakov's novel and a study of historical and biographical material, including the investigative case of N.R. Erdman, which materials are published for the first time. In the work, we rely on the system of editions of the novel that we have established and its main text, reflecting the last creative will of the author to the fullest extent: the first (1928-1930), the second (1932-1936), the third (1936), the fourth (1937), the fifth (last handwritten, 1937-1938), the sixth (final, 1938-1940). The draft texts are conveyed by dynamic transcription, which will make visible the process of writer's work on the creation and allow us to see the formation of the author's intention. Graphic conven-- tions are used for this: 1) a piece of text crossed out by the writer - [text]; 2) an insert during the writing process - text. When quoting draft texts, the author's spelling and punctuation are preserved.