Mikhail Bulgakov (1891–1940)

Born in Kief, Bulgakov studied medicine at Kiev University and served as a doctor during the First World War, working in both military and civilian hospitals in the provinces. He abandoned medine in 1920 and moved to Moscow in 1921; like Chekhov, Russia's other doctor-writer, he made his living from writing humorous sketches for newspapers. During the late 1920s several of his plays were performed in leading Moscow theatres, but they were removed from the repertoire after official criticism. He then applied for permission to emigrate; this led to a telephone call from Stalin himself. Bulgakov was refused permission to emigrate, but he was allowed to work at the Moscow Arts Theatre as an assistant producer from 1930 to 1936. The Days of the Turbins was one of Stalin's favourite plays, in spite of its sympathetic portrayal of the White Guard.