SKU: 21364462451

Tribit StormBox Blast

Sale price$14850.00 Regular price$16500.00
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $4125.00 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 27 - Sep 1

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Tribit StormBox BlastThe Tribit StormBox Blast is a high power portable Bluetooth speaker engineered for listeners who want deep bass, room filling sound, and long lasting battery performance. Built for both indoor and outdoor use, it combines powerful audio output with rugged durability, making it ideal for parties, events, travel, and everyday entertainment. Product Highlights Massive 90W output for powerful, immersive sound Deep bass performance with XBass enhancement

The Tribit StormBox Blast is a high-power portable Bluetooth speaker engineered for listeners who want deep bass, room-filling sound, and long-lasting battery performance. Built for both indoor and outdoor use, it combines powerful audio output with rugged durability, making it ideal for parties, events, travel, and everyday entertainment.

Product Highlights

  • Massive 90W output for powerful, immersive sound
  • Deep bass performance with XBass enhancement
  • IPX7 waterproof design for outdoor reliability
  • Up to 30 hours of battery life
  • Built-in LED light effects for party atmosphere
  • Bluetooth 5.3 for stable and fast wireless connection
  • Integrated handle for easy portability

Product Overview

The Tribit StormBox Blast is designed for those who demand serious sound from a portable speaker. Delivering thunderous bass, crisp highs, and impressive volume, it turns any space into a lively entertainment zone. Whether you are hosting a house party, relaxing outdoors, or powering music for gatherings, this speaker offers performance that rivals larger sound systems.

With an IPX7 waterproof rating, extended battery life, and dynamic LED lighting, the StormBox Blast blends durability with style. Bluetooth 5.3 ensures seamless connectivity, while its ergonomic handle makes it easy to transport. This speaker is built for energy, endurance, and unforgettable audio experiences.

Detailed Product Description

Built for Powerful, High-Impact Sound

The Tribit StormBox Blast is designed for listeners who want more than just background music. It is a high-performance portable Bluetooth speaker engineered to deliver bold volume, deep bass, and immersive sound that can energize any environment. From indoor entertainment spaces to outdoor gatherings, this speaker is built to command attention with its powerful audio output and dynamic presence. It is not a compact casual speaker; it is a statement piece for people who value loud, rich, and engaging sound.

Engineered for Serious Audio Performance

At the heart of the Tribit StormBox Blast is a powerful audio system capable of delivering up to 90 watts of output. This level of power places it in a category normally reserved for much larger sound systems. Dual high-performance woofers handle low frequencies with authority, while precision tweeters ensure clarity in mids and highs. Together, these components create a balanced sound profile that remains clean even at high volumes.

This speaker is engineered to move air efficiently, producing sound that feels expansive and immersive. Whether used in a living room, backyard, or open outdoor space, the audio fills the area without sounding strained or distorted.

Deep Bass with XBass Enhancement

Bass is one of the defining characteristics of the Tribit StormBox Blast. Equipped with advanced XBass technology, the speaker delivers deep, punchy low frequencies that can be felt as much as they are heard. Bass lines are rich and powerful, adding energy to music without overwhelming other elements of the track.

XBass enhancement allows low-end frequencies to stay controlled and tight, even when volume levels are pushed higher. This makes the speaker especially appealing for bass-driven genres such as hip-hop, electronic, dance, and pop, while still maintaining balance for rock, jazz, and acoustic music.

Clear Vocals and Balanced Midrange

While bass is a highlight, the StormBox Blast does not sacrifice vocal clarity or midrange detail. Vocals remain crisp and forward, allowing lyrics to be clearly understood even during complex tracks. Instruments such as guitars, keyboards, and horns maintain their natural tone and presence.

This balanced tuning makes the speaker suitable not only for music but also for podcasts, movies, and streamed content. Dialogue sounds natural and intelligible, enhancing the overall entertainment experience.

Wide Soundstage for Immersive Listening

The Tribit StormBox Blast is designed to project sound across a wide area. Its soundstage feels open and spacious, allowing audio to spread evenly rather than concentrating in one direction. This characteristic makes it ideal for social settings where multiple people are listening from different positions.

Whether placed at the center of a room or outdoors during a gathering, the sound remains consistent and immersive. The wide projection ensures that no one feels left out of the listening experience.

Long-Lasting Battery for Extended Use

One of the most impressive features of the Tribit StormBox Blast is its battery endurance. With up to 30 hours of playback on a single charge, the speaker is built for extended listening sessions without interruption. This long battery life makes it ideal for parties, outdoor events, travel, and all-day use.

Users can enjoy music from morning until late at night without worrying about frequent recharging. The large battery capacity provides peace of mind and reliability, especially in situations where access to power may be limited.

Designed for Outdoor Adventures

The StormBox Blast is not limited to indoor use. Its rugged design and IPX7 waterproof rating make it suitable for outdoor environments and unpredictable conditions. The speaker can withstand rain, splashes, and even temporary water immersion, making it a dependable companion for poolside use, beach outings, camping trips, and outdoor celebrations.

This level of protection allows users to focus on enjoying music rather than worrying about environmental damage. The speaker is built to perform wherever the music takes you.

Bluetooth 5.3 for Stable and Fast Connectivity

Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, the Tribit StormBox Blast offers fast pairing, stable connections, and improved wireless performance. Audio streams smoothly with minimal dropouts, even at extended distances. This ensures a reliable listening experience whether the speaker is used indoors or outdoors.

The improved efficiency of Bluetooth 5.3 also helps reduce latency, making audio playback more synchronized when watching videos or movies. This enhances versatility across different types of media.

Dynamic LED Lighting for Party Atmosphere

The Tribit StormBox Blast includes integrated LED light effects that add a visual dimension to the audio experience. The lights sync with the rhythm and intensity of the music, creating an energetic and engaging atmosphere. This feature transforms the speaker into a centerpiece for parties and social gatherings.

The lighting enhances mood and ambiance, making music feel more immersive and exciting. It adds personality to the speaker and helps set the tone for celebrations and events.

Portable Design with Integrated Handle

Despite its powerful output, the StormBox Blast is designed with portability in mind. An integrated handle allows users to carry the speaker comfortably from one location to another. The handle is sturdy and well-balanced, making transportation easier despite the speaker’s solid build.

This thoughtful design ensures that users do not have to compromise between power and mobility. The speaker can be moved effortlessly between rooms, taken outdoors, or transported to events with minimal effort.

Built for Durability and Long-Term Use

The Tribit StormBox Blast is constructed using durable materials that protect its internal components while maintaining acoustic performance. The casing is designed to withstand regular handling, transportation, and exposure to outdoor conditions.

Buttons are responsive and built to last, ensuring consistent control over time. This durability makes the speaker a reliable investment for users who plan to use it frequently.

Versatile Entertainment Companion

The StormBox Blast is suitable for a wide range of entertainment needs. It performs equally well for music streaming, movie nights, fitness sessions, outdoor events, and casual listening. Its versatility makes it a valuable addition to any audio setup.

Whether used as a primary speaker for home entertainment or as a portable solution for social gatherings, it adapts easily to different scenarios.

Ideal for Social Gatherings and Events

With its high volume output, deep bass, and wide sound projection, the Tribit StormBox Blast is perfectly suited for parties and group events. It can energize a crowd and maintain consistent sound quality even in larger spaces.

The combination of powerful audio and visual lighting effects enhances the overall experience, making gatherings more memorable and enjoyable.

User-Friendly Controls and Operation

The speaker features intuitive controls that make operation simple and straightforward. Users can easily adjust volume, manage playback, and control connectivity without confusion. This ease of use ensures that anyone can operate the speaker confidently.

The user-friendly interface complements the speaker’s powerful performance, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

A Premium Choice in Portable Audio

The Tribit StormBox Blast stands out in the portable Bluetooth speaker category by offering power, endurance, and durability in a single package. It delivers performance that rivals much larger systems while maintaining the convenience of portability.

For users who want loud, bass-rich sound without sacrificing clarity or reliability, this speaker represents excellent value. It is built for those who take their music seriously and want a speaker that can keep up with their lifestyle.

A Complete Audio Experience

From deep bass and clear vocals to long battery life and rugged protection, the Tribit StormBox Blast offers a complete audio solution. It combines technical performance with thoughtful design, making it suitable for everyday use and special occasions alike.

For anyone seeking a powerful portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers immersive sound and dependable performance, the Tribit StormBox Blast is a compelling and capable choice.

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
Powerful 90W sound output Heavier than compact Bluetooth speakers
Deep bass with XBass enhancement Large size may not fit small bags
Long battery life up to 30 hours No Wi-Fi streaming support
IPX7 waterproof protection LED lights may reduce battery slightly

Related Categories & Alternative Options

Explore more options in the portable Bluetooth speakers category , featuring wireless speakers for home, travel, and outdoor use.

Alternative speakers available within a similar budget:

Experience Powerful Sound Without Limits

Upgrade your audio experience with deep bass, long battery life, and rugged portability. The Tribit StormBox Blast is built to deliver unforgettable sound wherever you go.

Buy Tribit StormBox Blast Now
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 21364462451

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.2 ★★★★★
Based on 29 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
R
Verified Purchase
Rocco
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
One of My Favorite All Time Novels!
The novel The Master and Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov, is a masterpiece of the Stalinist-Soviet era of the twentieth century. Bulgakov, in his banned novel, elucidates his vision and interpretation of the period under harsh Stalinist and Communist bureaucratic oppression. These interpretations, not made evident until the book’s release in the mid 1960’s, deal not only with love and devotion, but also with good and evil, virtue and remorse, and responsibility and redemption. Motivated and inspired by Goethe’s themes found in the literary tale Faust, the book ranges from hilarious interludes and occurrences to deep philosophical views of society and political parody. The novel itself interplays three stories: the first concerning the devil (Stalin?) in Moscow in the 1920’s and 1930’s (although no years are given by Bulgakov), the story of the Master and his love, Margarita, and the topic of the Master’s novel, Pontius Pilate and Jesus. Within these three stories is an amazing portrayal of comedy, philosophy, heartbreak, betrayal, fear and love. Woland’s (the devil) attacks on literary society in Moscow is likely a portrayal of Stalin’s crackdown on artistic expression in the early 1930’s. Bulgakov experienced this crackdown firsthand, actually writing a letter to Stalin in the 1930’s asking to leave the Soviet Union. Stalin instead allowed Bulgakov to enter a writer’s guild, although continued to repress the literature and art created by the guild’s artisans and writers. In the novel, Woland’s henchmen, including the personified black cat (Behemoth) and the tall freak with the pince-nez glasses, contribute to this fear of “big brother” with their recurring appearances in places visited by the book’s characters. Bulgakov makes his views of Soviet officials and society in general apparent throughout the novel as well. One official, for example, is seen by office visitors (or not seen!) as an empty suit working at a desk. The suit answers phones, shuffles papers and carries on government business, but has no visible hands or head. Bulgakov portrays other officials who oversee Moscow apartments as apparatchiks with no real direction or knowledge of how to interact with people in difficult situations. Moreover, Bulgakov points out the greed and selfishness, or perhaps desperation, of Soviet citizens in pursuit of better living quarters and money. Berlioz’s uncle, for example, comes to Moscow after the death of his wife’s nephew (Berlioz) only with the intent to claim Berlioz’s Moscow apartment. Of course, he finds it has been commandeered by the devil and his retinue. People crazily diving after ten Ruble notes at the devil’s black magic performance, only to find out later that the bills are fake, is yet another example. Bulgakov daringly plays with themes of religious fear and remorse throughout his novel as well, with the story (as told by Woland and the Master) of Pontus Pilate and Jesus (Yeshua Ha-Notsri). Perhaps this is Bulgakov’s way of defying and making fun of the reality of Stalinist and Communist imposed atheism on Russian society. How ironic that the devil himself has to convince two atheists, Berlioz and Bezdomny, that Jesus really did exist. Moreover, Bulgakov’s (or the Master’s) portrayal of Pilate as having misgivings over the crucifixion of Jesus may be his way of wondering or perhaps hoping that Soviet officials may feel the same remorse for sequestering Soviet society. His portrayal of Levi, a former tax collector who watches in agony as Jesus and three others are executed, may also indicate this notion, since Levi later approaches Woland to ask for the Master and Margarita to be reunited. His portrayal of Jesus as believing that “all men are good” as opposed to Pilate’s belief that “all men are bad,” not only speaks to the theme of the book, but also to the Soviet authority. This speaks to the theme of redemption prevalent throughout the book in that people can be redeemed and can forgive others even for the most heinous of crimes. Bulgakov may be saying that even Stalin’s crimes, although not to be forgotten, are to be forgiven if one wishes to find one’s own salvation and peace. Even the devil shows compassion, putting Margarita through the hell of the criminal ball yet then permitting her to return to the arms of the Master. Hence, perhaps the main lesson of Bulgakov’s work is that happiness is not found by distinguishing good from evil but rather through redemption and the reconciliation of one’s own soul. If Bulgakov seeks vengeance over his treatment by Soviet authorities, he will never find peace. The character of “the Master” is, likely, Bulgakov himself. The Master has been driven insane by the rejection of his novel by critics, who deem it as “Pilatism,” and the censorship of literature in general. His depression and anxiety have landed him in a mental hospital and deprived him of his love, Margarita. Although the Master attempts to burn his manuscript, Margarita saves a part of it which she cherishes in her lover’s absence. The key problem for the Master, however, is not so much the people and oppressors around him but rather his inability to overcome fear itself. Pilate pervades the entirety of the novel, combining the three stories, and is perhaps a reflection of how Bulgakov felt about himself and Soviet society in general; remorseful and seeking redemption. The love story between Margarita and the Master is one of beauty and allusion. The realities of a forced and contrived society rife with selfishness and repression pull them apart. However, their reunion is a symbol of overcoming the system. Although Margarita has to do the devil’s bidding (sell her soul and become a witch), she does it to reunite with her lost love. She is redeemed, however, because she is sincere in her devotion. Even the devil himself is somewhat of a redeemer, as he helps to reveal the stories of Margarita, Pilate and Jesus. Perhaps Bulgakov was speaking here to the power of the human spirit, in that even when manipulated by a devil (Stalin and the corrupt governing system) people can still persevere. Every character, in the end, finds some semblance of redemption. The characters and hence society live on because, as Bulgakov famously makes clear in the novel (as said by Woland), “manuscripts don’t burn.” The Master and Margarita is indeed a masterpiece of literary art. One could read it numerous times and come away with new meanings and life lessons each time. Its themes of redemption and the enduring nature of the human spirit are the characteristics that allow the novel to continue in perpetuity. It is unfortunate that Bulgakov did not live to see the success of his magnum opus. However, if the lessons and beauty of his book ring true, perhaps he does know of its success.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2014
C
Verified Purchase
Claudia Gasparrini Etheridge
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 4
THE LATEST MASTERPIECE FROM RUSSIA IN A NEW TRANSLATION
This book is a satire of the Soviet Union during Stalin‘s regime. Written between 1928 and 1940, not surprisingly, it remained unpublished until 1967. Later, following the collapse of communism in December 1991, not only did the book start to sell, the title was added to the list of the essential classics of modern Russian literature. Presently, "The Master and Margarita" by Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov is regarded as one of the best novels of the 20th century and remains popular among readers the world over. The novel has had more than enthusiastic readers. Contemporary composer Stephen Johnson enjoyed the book so much that he wrote the music for a ballet celebrating one of the main characters. Titled “Behemoth Dances“, the work centers on the very large by now famous black cat which, in addition to talking, walking on two legs and drinking vodka, now dances as well. The ballet premiered in Moscow on April 23 2016. After that, additional performances took place during the 2016 summer season in various English concert halls - among them, Cadogan Hall in London (May 12) and Symphony Hall in Birmingham (May 14). I have read a good portion of The Master and Margarita and found it to be a strange book, a book that - like many literary works during the twentieth century - is complex and difficult to read. Some of the Amazon.com reviewers believe that the complexity is related, at least in part, to the translation which they consider poor. It is true, the translation can be poor at times, but I do not believe that it contributes to the confusion, certainly not to any extent: translators Diana Burgin and Katherine O’Connor assure us that they made a very special effort to keep the English words and concepts as close in meaning as possible to the original Russian. There are more important factors that make the book confusing. First, there are too many characters, 63 altogether, 22 of them main characters. That is a lot more than those in most novels. Because they are Russian, these characters have usually three names. It is difficult to remember who is who and playing what part, when introduced to that many foreign people - at least it is difficult for some of us. Then there is the plot. The focus is on Satan and his retinue that includes the above mentioned very unusual black cat. There is also a beautiful naked witch named Hella; and a few other peculiar characters, who run around Moscow interfering with the lives of many members of the literary Russian elite. Also included are the stories of the remaining main characters and their friends, relatives, assistants and others. There are two important settings for the plot, as the reader is taken back and forth from: (1) 1930’s Moscow during Holy Week, from Wednesday night to the following Saturday night to be exact; (2) Jerusalem of Pontius Pilate's world - appearing in the pages of the Master's novel, during the same time of the year, but about 2,000 years earlier. The story begins with the appearance of Satan at the Patriarch Ponds in Moscow, disguised as Professor Woland, a mysterious gentleman magician of uncertain origin. Prof. Woland meets in such a location Mikhail Alexandrovich Berlioz, the editor of an anti-religious journal, and Ivan Nikolaevich Ponyrev, a poet employed by Berlioz. He challenges their atheism with a story, during which we are introduced to the second setting, Jerusalem of Pontius Pilate's world. This part of the novel concerns Pilate's trial of Yeshua Ha-Notsri (presumably Jesus) and his reluctant but resigned submission to the unfortunate man’s execution. Berlioz dies early on during the story after being run over by a street car. The poet Ivan Nikolaevich continues on, trying to understand the death of his friend and employer. Interestingly enough, we do not meet the two title characters, the Master and Margarita, until we are well into the story. We meet the Master first, while still in part one, but in one of the later chapters. We are introduced to him - who incidentally does not appear to have a name (thank God!!!) - at the mental hospital where he has been a patient for four months. The Master is a writer by profession, having written, among other narratives, about Pontius Pilate and the story related to the second setting. Unfortunately, he is ridiculed by his Russian peers for daring to write about religious subjects. As for Margarita, we meet her in part two of the novel, although we are introduced to her first through the Master’s description of his relationship with her. The two were lovers, but the Master would rather set her free to avoid the suffering that their relationship would cause her. She has other plans. We learn that the woman is so much in love with the Master, that she is willing to visit Hell for him. By Good Friday, Satan is having his Great Spring Ball as Prof. Woland, at his earthly residence. At such time, he offers Margarita the opportunity to become a witch with supernatural powers. A spring full moon illuminates the Moscow skyline. The same full moon also lights the night sky when Yeshua’s fate is sealed by Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. This provides a link between the two settings. Capable of flying, due to her new powers as a witch, Margarita soars over the forests and rivers of the USSR, then returns to Moscow to co-host Satan's Ball. Standing by his side, she welcomes the dark celebrities of human history as they arrive from Hell. In recognition for her assistance, Satan grants Margarita her wish to liberate the Master even though she must live in poverty with him. Eventually, the Master and Margarita leave civilization and fly with the Devil, as Moscow's cupolas and windows burn in the setting Easter sun. They are granted "peace" for not having lost their faith in humanity, but are denied "light", consequently they will spend eternity together in a shadowy, although pleasant, region similar to Dante's Limbo. At the same time as the Master and Margarita are set free, Pontius Pilate is released from his eternal punishment, and walks the moonbeam path to Yeshua, where another eternity awaits. That is the story, which I tried to relate in as clear a manner as I could. If you are not confused, and if you have the patience to read the entire book, slowly, while trying to make some sense out of the many characters and events, you will probably come to the conclusion that it was worth the effort.  
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2017
I
Verified Purchase
Ioana
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Brilliant, Visceral Portrayal of the Eastern-Block Landscape and Imagination
Wow-just WOW! Bulgakov simply blew me away with his dark & very eastern-block humor, twisted ironies, brilliant metaphors, infinite layers of meaning, his surrealist aesthetic and refusal to follow any "rules" of any particular genre. Within a few chapters, this book quickly moved up to my #1 Most Brilliant Books Ever Written list, and after the last pages, I have a feeling it will stay here for a long time (perhaps until I take up Gogol, or so I am told). There are many layers to this novel, a plethora of imagery, metaphors, and references that have been studied in hundreds of scholarly articles and tens of thousands of journalistic/reviewer articles, so I will not attempt to gloss superficially over any themes. Rather I will focus on the ironic humor, which touched me most profoundly, as a person born and raised under Ceausescu's regime (Romania). Ironic, tragic, dark and depressing humor was central to Eastern European resistance to communism, and served a healing as well as communal/relational function. Even today, visiting Bucharest, the dark humor remains, and is spoken, without reservation, between strangers at bus stations, intimate family members, colleagues at the office, etc--it is a key thread of our identity and how we relate to and understand the world. I have never ready any work that captures this humor better than Bulgakov. A process that is emphasized in the literature on communism is the development of a duality of psychic space, a mode of schizophrenic resistance. To many who sought refuge in books and humor, this fragmentation transformed into a positive experience: a honed, rich duality was a sign of strength, showing how one could successfully detach herself from the absence of things and to fill space with meaning in spite of adversity. These processes were transmitted historically, and taught one how to survive without alienating oneself psychologically. Andrei Pleşu remembers humor about lack as a "prop of survival". Oana-Maria Hock remembers the theatre as providing a "surrogate toughness", a form of resistance in the face of material insecurity. In a place in which material necessities were difficult to come by, disassociation, particularly through artistic release, served to create spaces of plenty. Even though this work may be read by any audience, and though most find it brilliant, it particularly speaks to those who have lived through the horrors of Eastern-block communism and its historical particularities in this region; the humor especially is not only deeply ironic and depressing, but also is born of an experience difficult to describe if one has not lived it: the reference, for example, to "second-grade-fresh" fish. It may seem superficially funny to anyone who has not experienced rationing as a way of life, but the phrase has many layers of meaning: first, as a reference to the rationing process/how hard it was to find food, second as a reference to the Eastern-block communist way of meticulously categorizing all things (such as different grades of products, of which "first grade" was of course never available to the non-connected citizen), third as reflection of how people in this region relied on deeply disturbing humor to pacify, at least temporarily, their disquietude, fourth, illustrating the peculiarities of communication during this time (when everything had at least a double meaning, under the politically correct and allowed language), and fifth, it brings back the embodied feeling itself of how one used to imagine the world before 1989--it is absolutely *visceral*, because this is EXACTLY how people talked. Everything was a private joke--and every comment was either ironic or meant something other than what it actually said. Another example: in the Epilogue, when Bulgakov takes on the narrator role and tells us what happened after the Devil left Moscow, he first mentions the plight of black cats: "A hundred or so of these peaceful animals... were shot or otherwise destroyed in various parts of the country"... The ridiculousness of his concern for the cats considering circumstances is another perfect example of the twisted humor used during this period as a means of resistance. Further, Bulgakov continues his story, citizens were goaded into public vigilantism of capturing black cats and reporting with them to police stations; there is even a story of a woman who comes to a station to vouch for the "character" of her cat. Clearly, this is not a story about cats, but a reference to the Secret Police, the dreaded disappearances, and the ways in which regular citizens were complicit in the process--yet at the same time, it is also a story about how Eastern block policies/dictators actually did value "cats"/animals above people (not to mention that people were treated AS animals, another double meaning). In an even darker twist, after several pages, Bulgakov moves on from the cat stories: "Besides the cats, there were a few people who suffered some minor unpleasantness. Several arrests were made... A lot of other things happened, but one can't remember everything." And with this poignant reference to the communist culture of "forgetting" (scrubbed history books, banned authors, emphasis on the present and future at the expense of the past incarnated in communist policies, purging of national archives, etc) Bulgakov ends by reminding us of the dark and tragic experience of Eastern-Block communism.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2013
B
Verified Purchase
Blake Ray
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Outstanding edition of important and thrilling novel
Format: Kindle
This review is for the novel "The Master and Margarita" in the Kindle edition translated by Diana Burgin and Katherine Tiernan O'Connor. I just finished reading this novel for the third time. Ages ago I read it for a college 20th Century Russian Literature class in the Mirra Ginsburg translation, and loved it so much that as soon as I finished it I started over at the beginning without even getting up from my chair to read it a second time. Somehow this edition got lost; probably I loaned it to a friend and never got it back. In subsequent years I tried to read it again, in the P&V translation and in another that is no longer available, but I just couldn't make any headway, and abandoned these after two chapters. I have not sat down to compare line by line this translation with a Russian version, which I also have, but the translation in the version under discussion seems to me to be stellar. It read smoothly and vividly, and captured the movement and extravagant energy of the original. This is a tough novel to translate since the writing style changes drastically in some chapters. Tone and topic are intimately intertwined, and the stylistic virtuosity of Bulgakov is one of the book's primary charms. (Read it and you will find out why.) This edition also has extensive notes at the end, general guidance for making sense of references and allusions, and these are very helpful and beautifully written by Ellendea Proffer. These notes are followed by an outstanding essay on the novel, as well as a brief biographical sketch of the author, and these are likewise very helpful, thoughtful, well-written and not overly long. (These are also by Ellendea Proffer. She really hits a home run with her essay, in my humble opinion.) I am hooked now, and am sure I will be returning to this novel many times. Although I enjoyed immensely my first two readings of this novel, I feel now that three readings is not enough to grasp it. I will have to go back to it, but it's worth it! This is a novel for those who can keep an open mind and who are not bothered by satire or surrealist elements, and who can accept puzzling ambiguities and deep philosophical and moral questions for which there are no easy answers. I am so glad I decided to take a chance on this wonderful translation.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2023
D
Verified Purchase
D. Mikels
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 3
"The devil knows why. . ."
I have mentioned before in a distant review of the past that each book has a "moment of truth," that shimmering macrosecond where the reader either becomes hooked (and therefore can't wait to finish the work), or disappointed (whereby the book is either put aside, or finished grudgingly). For me, alas, Bulgakov's THE MASTER AND MARGARITA evoked the latter, although I finished the book and readily appreciated the author's rather fantastic and satirical story of Satan and his pesky retinue wreaking havoc in 1930s Moscow. That Mikhail Bulgakov is an exceptional writer is a given; if only I was fluid in Russian where I could read his words as written I would no doubt be even more impressed with his prose and style. This Vintage Press edition (translated by Diana Burgin and Katherine Tiernan O'Connor) certainly pays homage to this classic with a meticulous eye for detail, followed by notes on each chapter that I found to be invaluable. So then, what's the problem? Well, I enjoy humor and satire as much as the next guy (I suppose), but a story depicting Satan as some sort of instrument of salvation--an instrument in alliance with Yeshua--for the book's two protagonists was just. . .too much. The Master, a writer who cannot endure the pain of rejection, is one-dimensional and sullen, while Margarita, his love, becomes a willing pawn of the devil. And the story blithely suggests that death through its mortal release is preferable to life (which is understandable, given Bulgakov's failing health as he finished the book). The fantastic notion of the story--of illusion, madness, a huge talking cat, flying through the air, and a Satanic ball--is a clever device, but eventually it wears thin. As a playwright, Bulgakov uses an abundance of theater officers, bureaucrats, and authors as unhappy victims of Satan's antics (no doubt the author was settling countless scores); unfortunately, the names of these characters are in Russian, and many of the names vary by a vowel or a letter, making it very difficult for the reader to keep track of "who's who." And the parallel story of Pontius Pilate and the crucifixion--told from a political, not spiritual, perspective--was interesting, yet bizarre. In fact, "bizarre" is a good word to describe THE MASTER AND MARGARITA in its entirety; it's an interesting, fantastic, metaphysical tale, yet requires too much suspension of disbelief. --D. Mikels
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2004

recommand products