“Bulgakov’s love for Kiev burns in every chapter of The White Guard.” —The Guardian“Infused with a passion for the old city and for its people that catches the reader up in its sweeping intensity.” —The New York Times Book Review“A portrait of a population under siege....Bulgakov’s novel evokes the suffering of [the Russian Civil War] and the still greater horrors that lay ahead.” —The Wall Street Journal“A writer of fantastic genius.” —The Sunday TimesMikhail Bulgakov’s 'The White Guard', first published in 1925, is a gripping historical novel set during the Russian Civil War. It follows the Turbin family—Aleksei, a devoted White Army officer; his younger brother Nikolka, eager to prove himself; and their sister Elena—as they navigate the chaos of Kiev after the fall of the Russian Empire.As political factions shift and violence erupts, the Turbins struggle with loyalty, survival, and the collapse of their world. Through their personal and ideological crises, the novel explores themes of war, honor, and disillusionment.Based partly on Bulgakov’s own experiences, 'The White Guard' offers a deeply human perspective on historical upheaval. Though censored in Soviet Russia, it remains a poignant examination of war’s impact on individuals, later inspiring Bulgakov’s famous play 'The Days of the Turbins'.