Summary of the novel "The White Guard" by chapter (M. A. Bulgakov) * Reports

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The prose of M. Bulgakov is the pearl of Russian modernism. The author reflected the pressing problems of the country in an innovative style, using the entire arsenal of the literary experimenter. Particularly noteworthy is his novel "The White Guard", which describes the main historical events of the critical troubled times. The plot of the work nearly ruined the writer, because in him the sympathy for the class hostile to the proletarians is clearly felt. A brief retelling of this book was prepared for you by the Literaguru team.

Part 1

Chapter 1. December 1918 The main characters are the Turbin family. Elena a year ago married Sergey Talberg. At the same time, her older brother, Alexei, returned from service and their mother died. Especially hard was the death of the youngest brother, Nikolka. Everything in their house was filled with memories of times of family happiness. And the dying mother asked the children to live together. But life was getting harder during this difficult time. Once (shortly after the funeral), Alex came to the priest, Father Alexander. He asks the clergyman when this troubles will end. He does not know, but argues that gloom cannot be allowed. He says that he reads theological books. One of them says that a lot of blood is coming.
Chapter 2. At dusk, Alexei and Nikolka went for firewood, they are becoming less and less, because thieves are pulling out. Nikolka thinks about the shoemakers and offers to watch them. Brother refuses. Soon the stove was heated. It is noteworthy in that it is full of various phrases. Alexey and Nikolka are warming themselves at the stove. The elder asks to play the younger on the guitar. Then Elena appears. She is nervous that there is still no husband. Suddenly everyone hears the shooting, it is very close to the city. Nikolka would like to know the details. Make a samovar. Despite all the collisions, the Turbins clean and tidy: a white tablecloth, shiny floors, flowers. Elena is worried, can neither read nor drink tea. Nikolka starts a conversation about shooting. The sister sadly asks if their allies left in the face of Petlyura. She is convinced that this cannot be. And that Talberg just lingered. Then the doorbell rang. Everyone thinks that this is Sergey, but it turned out that Victor Myshlaevsky. He is in a terrible state: all frozen and frostbite, deadly tired, lice are teeming on his body. He is undressed, frostbitten fingers see him, help to change clothes. After he thawed, he begins to scold everyone in the world who commands the troops and participates in battles. Petlyura made his way close to the city, and his unit was left to their own devices. The shift, led by Colonel Nye-Tours, was surprised at how they held out. Myshlaevsky also tells how one grandfather mixed up their detachment with Petlyurovsky and frankly said that everyone had gone to the bandits. When they were finally replaced, and the unit got to the station, there were many staff in excellent conditions. Only under the threat of the use of force did they themselves, the standing officers, be accommodated and fed. On this Myshlaevsky fell asleep from the vodka drunk for warming. The elder brother sends the younger one to wash the sufferer, and Elena at this time cries in another room, thinking that her husband is dead. Then they called again. Elena joyfully ran to the door. The brothers also rejoiced, although they did not like Talberg. He was calm and affable, but something was wrong with him. Sergey says that he didn’t shoot Petlyura, but some gangs. Then he calls his wife to talk. It turned out that he was leaving, running away (he did not take his wife with him). It is not surprising that this happened, Talberg was able to adapt to any power and get out of the water dry. And immediately forgot what he said before. The main thing for him is his career and his own position. He tells Elena that he cannot take her, if anything, the brothers will protect her (and he will withdraw). Then he tells the brothers that the Germans betrayed the City.
Chapter 3. Near the Turbins lived the owner of the whole house, engineer Vasily Lisovich, who was called Vasilisa, because after the Revolution he began to sign “You. Fox. " And the first so he was called by Nikolka when he came under fire, having received a sugar card from Lisovich. A stone hit him in the back and he spit blood. And during the events described, he gently hid something from the wallpaper in a cache. In several hiding places, an engineer hides money. He continues to enthusiastically count money, putting aside false for the cabman. A guitar comes from Turbin's apartment. Vasilisa complains to herself that there is no peace with the tenants. More friends came to them - Karas and Shervinsky. Karas reports the news that he is going to go to the militia and fight against Petliura. Shervinsky rejoices at Talberg's flight; on this day he is surprisingly in his voice. Guests are sure that whites will come to the city and help stop gang raids. Nikolka, running away from the guests, falls to the damask blade. He wants to fight. At this time, Alexei said that the hetman was to blame for everything, which hindered the formation of the army until the last. He wants to sign up as a volunteer, but not everyone is so patriotic that it is disastrous for the City. But this is because the formation of the army should have begun earlier. And to agree with the Germans: food supply in exchange for protection from the communist threat. Shervinsky argues that in terms of the allies and the hetman - to help get rid of the whole of Russia from the Bolsheviks and throw Russia at the feet of Nicholas II, who, in fact, did not die, but fled. Everyone drinks for this crazy idea. And they begin to sing a hymn, which terrifies Vasilisa. And the Turbins are all drunk, Myshlaevsky is generally half dead, he is nauseous. He is put to bed, everyone is also getting ready for bed. Everyone fell asleep, only Elena sat and thought about Sergey. In their brilliant marriage, there was not enough love - that is what the woman understood. Her brother, at this time, executed himself for allowing Talberg to behave this way.
Chapter 4. The city at that time lived a strange, unnatural life. It was filled with refugees from the Bolshevik regime, whom the city feared and hated. Hetman Cities were chosen very quickly, because the residents needed only peace of mind. However, outside the city there were many lands that suffered greatly from the alliance with the Germans (especially the villages), the people were ruthless to the people: the Germans rob peasants - that’s what they need. After all, the Germans resisted the second, more terrible force - the Bolsheviks.
Chapter 5 And then a third force appeared. It was marked by several phenomena: an explosion in the suburbs, the assassination of the German commander in chief in Ukraine, as well as a significant increase in prices. A pretty milk saleswoman even ceases to be afraid of the Germans, which Vasilisa notes when talking to her. In September, an inconspicuous criminal was released from prison. But it was Petliura. Its appearance is natural, since the common people of the Hetman and Germans hated it, because the peasants needed land that they were not given. It seems that this problem could be solved by the Bolsheviks, but they were not popular, so banditry flourished. And the Germans are leaving Ukraine. In a dream, Alexei sees Colonel Nai-Tours, along with his subordinates in paradise. The Bolsheviks also ended up in paradise, because they, too, were killed in battle. An illegible dream ends, but something unclear and incomprehensible also happens in reality. Everyone is afraid of Petliura, but they have a poor idea of who it is. And he is getting closer.
Chapter 6 In the morning, Alexei, Myshlaevsky and Karas got up at the same time with rather clear heads. Nikolka had already retired, and Shervinsky to serve. Myshlaevsky washes himself, flirts with Anyuta (the housekeeper), Turbin drives him away from her, then the womanizer goes to put up with Elena for his behavior yesterday. Then Myshlaevsky hangs himself and feels himself reborn. Elena speaks with him and Karasem about where troops can send. The latter reassures her with his calmness and composure. After some time, Karas introduced Colonel Turbin and Myshlaevsky. The first would like to be a doctor in his division, and the second just to transfer. The colonel asks Alexei if he is a socialist (these ideas dominate the unit). Turbin admits that he is a monarchist. But the colonel still accepts both. An hour later, Turbin was already at home, where his sister sewed his epaulettes, and he himself changed the opening hours for his private practice (he worked as a venereologist at home). After that, Alex went back, reading the latest reports about Petlyura in the newspaper along the way. He walks past the crowd surrounding the coffins of officers slaughtered in Popelyuh. In the crowd, someone says that this is what an officer needs. An angry Turbine grabs this man, but realizes that he was mistaken. Therefore, it goes to the boy newspaper. He comes to the gymnasium, where he himself studied before. Alexey recalls that carefree time that has irrevocably gone somewhere. A distribution point is arranged in the gymnasium, where Turbin also receives a team of paramedics. He gives directions. The morale is not high, especially because of the coffins. Therefore, one cadet is ordered to sing for fun. Colonel Malyshev arrives, who asks about the condition of the unit and orders them to leave home before morning. The situation is difficult - the colonel also acknowledges this. Then he turns to the division and dissolves everyone. The turbine can come even later than the rest. Malyshev and Turbin saw how Myshlaevsky makes an old man turn on the lights in the entire gymnasium. He takes the key from the watchman. The officer praises the colonel and asks to establish heating. Turbin asks Myshlaevsky if he saw Maxim and the changes in him. This man mocked the heroes in his school years. The clogged watchman was just Maxim. Later, Alexei, who released the paramedics, was in one of the classes and gave in to sentimental memories. The colonel was busy all night. Soon heating was organized, stoked at desks. Arriving for the night, Malyshev talked on the phone, then they brought him a knot, which he immediately hid. And only then fell asleep.
Chapter 7 The city is quiet. Passing the German convoy commander Belorukov. Myshlaevsky walks past the gymnasium with eyes red from lack of sleep, vodka and anxiety. Everything is prepared for the future battle. Patrols around the city, it’s hard to go to its lower part. The Germans have a fuss in the palace, everyone is getting ready for something. Colonel Malyshev was called at 4 in the morning; he returned an hour later preoccupied. In the morning everyone was alarmed, there weren’t enough people in the ranks, they didn’t come after spending the night at home. Malyshev arrives and reports unexpected news: the division is disbanded. After that, the officers arrested the colonel. Malyshev says that such an act is patriotic, but stupid. There is no one else to defend - the hetman fled, and the units are weak and fragmented. The city will obviously take Petliura, who has more strength. The division is opening, some cadets are crying. Malyshev refuses Myshlaevsky's request to burn the gymnasium so that Petlyura doesn’t get weapons, because the enemy will get people's lives anyway, which is much worse. Soon the gymnasium was empty.

Part 2

Chapter 8. Colonel Kozyr-Leshko woke up, they sent him a disposition. It was necessary to immediately fight. He was in the army of Petliura. He used to be a teacher, but the war turned out to be his recognition. Trump circled the position. The plan of attack on the city was made by Colonel Toropets, this plan contained a roundabout maneuver. Rumors flourished in the city at that time. It seems to have even concluded an agreement with Petliura. Colonel Shchetkin was supposed to take an active part in the defense, but he fled. No one could understand what was happening, but soon the city was taken by Colonel Bolbotun, who was tired of waiting, and he increased the fire. He passed almost unhindered. Among the residents there were immediately those who found out about this, who supported the colonel. The bandits got contractor Feldman. His wife gave birth, so he went for a midwife. He wanted to present the documents, but accidentally pulled out the one that certified his right to enter and exit on supplies for the army of the City. This angered the detachment, the unfortunate was killed.
Chapter 9 On Bolbotun's path stood liquid chains that could do nothing. No one else came up, all because of the commander of the second car of Shpolyansky's armored division. This is a rich man, living luxuriously and believing that both the hetman and Petliura are bastards. Before the attack of Bolbotun, Shpolyansky complained about the life of Rusakov, who is sick with syphilis. At home, the patient’s complaints grew into despair, he asks God for forgiveness for blasphemous verses and asks for supreme intercession. At this time, Shpolyansky tells his mistress that he is going to the hetman in the division. He outwardly transforms, but says that the hetman should not be defended. Before the battle, Shpolyansky and the mechanic prepare the cars so that three out of four fail. After that, both disappear. As morning approaches, some soldiers disappear, and soon the division commander.
Chapter 10. Part of Nai-Tours after the permutations again fell into the city. He himself in a short time formed a part that struck by the presence of felt boots and popes, without them he refused to speak. He was given permission, saying that he could not get anything in a short time. But a detachment of cadets convinced the suppliers of the need to promote the colonel. The protesting unit guards the Polytechnic Highway. During the battle with the units of Trump-Leshko, suddenly he is frightened of something, orders to retreat and learn about the fate of other parts. And the flair did not fail: the rest of the units are not known where, but the enemy is in the rear. Meanwhile, the third division of the infantry squad languished in idleness. Nikolka also entered it, who later had to withdraw the team along the route. Alexei is at home, reassuring Elena along the way. Turbines for a monstrous amount hired a cabman. A drunk man with a rifle wanted to stop them along the way, but everything worked out well. But it turned out that the units had already left the city. He runs to the store of Anjou, where the military station was located. There he saw Colonel Malyshev, who changed his appearance, he said that everything was over. Malyshev says that Petlyura is already in the city, all that remains is to hide.
Chapter 11 When the detachment led by Nikolka came to the appointed place, there was nobody there. After some waiting, running people appeared. It soon became clear that this was their own. Runners tore shoulder straps and advised the team to join them. But Nikolka did not allow his to crumble. At the end, Nai Tours appeared. But he began to break the epaulettes and ordered to flee. The squad team followed this advice. Nikolka ran for Nai-Turs, he wanted to find out what happened, but the colonel did not have time to tell, he was killed. Further Turbin ran alone, seized with horror, but he was suddenly seized by a Petliurist. It turned out that this was not a gangster, but a janitor who wanted to turn him in, so Nikolka threatened to kill him, and he let him go, but he got in the teeth for parting. For this, the janitor closed the gate, preventing the Turbine from passing, and began to call the Petliurites. With inhuman effort, Nikolka jumped over another wall. Going out into the street, the hero saw a panic of the inhabitants. He helped the armed cadet, talking about the need to escape. Turbin saw children rolling downhill, who sympathized with Petliura. Upon returning home, Nikolka found out that Alexey had not returned. And this meant that he was most likely killed. Elena and Nikolka are sitting together, talking about Alexei and the fate of the city. Nikolka goes to the courtyard to listen to what is happening, because outside the city rumble of cannons is heard, which soon fell silent. On the battery sits one staff captain, who occasionally fires. The batteries are required to fire at the Petliurites, although this is not possible. Soon, a horse-drawn hundred bandits killed everyone on the battery. At this time, Nikolka fell asleep, he dreamed of some kind of web, which spoke to him, but this voice continued and in reality.He's talking about some wife who escaped with her lover. This is their relative, Illarion (Lariosik), who arrived from Zhytomyr. It turned out that at the same time Alexey appeared with him. He was badly wounded, Nikolka went for a doctor who bandaged the wound, and his relatives put his brother to bed, because he should not be in the hospital.

Part 3

Chapter 12 Elena talks with Alexei, briefly mentions that some woman participated in his rescue, talks about Lariosik who arrived. They decided to let him live, so that the rooms would not be requisitioned. He began living together with the fact that he accidentally broke a service. Similar cases happen to him regularly, because he is stupid. Lariosik promises to buy a new service and apologizes very much. A relative pays money for his maintenance, and this is an impressive amount. Lariosik traveled for eleven days, he was almost shot by Petliurites, mistaking him for an officer. He likes the Turbins, they seem very nice people. He expresses his sympathy to Nikolka, telling him that he has an open face. Looking at his open face, Lariosik crushed the hero's arm with an automatic bed. But Nikolka and Elena are preoccupied and distressed. The reason is Alexey’s poor condition: his temperature is approaching forty degrees, the wound hurt, threw it into heat, then cold. The doctor did not return, Elena and Lariosik are preparing to go on their own (Nikolka is too attracting attention). Alexey begins to rave, all those who care for him begin to seem to him inept and unable to help him. He calls Julia, but she does not come. But then a doctor appears who injects him with morphine, and Turbine becomes easier. At this time, Nicholas erased the monarchist calls from the stove and began to hide his weapon with Lariosik. A box with pistols was supposed to be on crutches outside the window, but it did not climb into the window. I had to hardly open the window, and Lariosik broke the glass. Then Elena, Nikolka and Lariosik conspired that he had typhoid to speak to questions about Alexey’s health.
Chapter 13 How did Alexey get a wound? Leaving the store, he got into an empty courtyard and then into a deserted street. Turning the wrong way, Turbin went straight to the Petliurists. They chased him, he shot back, but the situation was hopeless. However, suddenly a woman appeared from home, who called him and hid him. Running with her through a maze of gates and gates, Turbin was at the door where she and the woman had entered. There Alex fell. When he woke up, he realized that he was wounded, but he had to fight. Turbin began to give the woman instructions on how to give him first aid. She coped with a difficult task. Then she gave him brandy and put it down. The determined lady refused to let him out until everything settles down, and if they come to look for him, she will say that this is her sick husband. A woman comes and prepares to drown. Turbin calls her to thank. She says that he is brave, killed one of the pursuers, but immediately betrayed himself with a cockade on his cap. Alexey says his name and profession, she introduces herself as Julia, the woman is home alone, her husband and mother-in-law have left. Turbine rises in temperature, Julia sits with him, trying to ease his suffering, helps him as best she can. Alexey kissed the savior, she stroked his head, and he fell asleep. The next day, Turbin, with the help of his good fairies, got home.
Chapter 14. Myshlaevsky appears, as he usually flirts with Anyuta, but changes his tone sharply after learning about Alexey’s wound. He meets with the Turbins with Karasem and Shervinsky, the latter was in the headquarters, so Myshlaevsky is hostile to him, although he said that the staff were also abandoned. We decided that it was better for guests to stay overnight, they were going to play screw. Myshlaevsky talks with Lariosik during the game. Tom is never lucky, and they begin to scold him, so it happened this time. Everyone thinks this is a search, and come up with an unsuspecting role in this house. But it turned out that they brought a telegram to Elena. There was a roar, Vasilisa appeared and immediately fainted.
Chapter 15. Vasilisa cursed with the grumpy wife Wanda, after which they hid the money together. At tea, the wife is surprised how everything goes wrong with Turbin, the husband stands up for them. Their conversation interrupts the search. They are looking for weapons, but they find money and valuables, some take it for themselves. They take both clothes and watches, demanding to write a receipt that they gave voluntarily. In parting, visitors are advised not to tell anyone about their visit, it becomes clear that these are bandits. Wanda requires Vasilisa to take action. That is why he came to the Turbins, where he was advised not to say anything, so as not to incur a new misfortune. Then the glass rang, it turned out that the bandits had stolen the weapons hidden by Nikolka when they tried to get into Vasilisa. Upon learning of this, the landlord asked Myshlaevsky or Karas to stay with them for protection. The latter agreed, he was fed and watered with cognac, from which he soon fell asleep.
Chapter 16. The city awaits the ceremonial entry of the Petlyura troops. People are crushed in the crowd, they feel bad, but they stand, either glorifying Petliura or the king. Nikolka is also standing in the crowd, he sadly sees the great strength of the bandits. Then someone was raised to the “podium”, he spoke. Part of the crowd thinks where Petlyura is, another that another, and that in Belgium, settles affairs with allies. The speaker expresses close to socialist views. The Bolshevik provocateur is trying to kill Petlyura; the crowd is ready to tear him to pieces for this. Also, all this was watched by Karas and Myshlaevsky, who then go to drink.
Chapter 17 Nikolka found the Nai-Tours house, where he came to share information about him. He is met by his mother and some kind of dead woman. Maternal heart immediately understood everything. She was in shock, could not calm down. Sister Irina learned from Nikolka the details of the tragedy and went with him to work on giving the body to the family. She went to the barracks room, not afraid of either the smell or the terrible sight. But Turbin did not let her into the room itself, and he himself was unbearably ill from the terrible sight, but the goal was achieved. That night the colonel was buried.
Chapter 18. Turbin was dying. Nikolka cried at the thought. Elena held out without tears, but her condition was no better. While Nikolka, Myshlaevsky, Karas and Illariosik are thinking about whether to call a priest, Elena prays with passion and enthusiasm. Then Nikolka calls her to Alexei. He rushes about, but this is a crisis.
Chapter 19. Turbine survived. And even went outside, however, after a long two months. During this time, Petlyura left the city. Alex is going to go to Julia. But while he goes to the patient. This is Rusakov, who has now hit religion. Turbine will treat him, but he thinks to himself that the young man will go crazy. After some time, the hero came to Julia, gave her a bracelet. He asks for permission to come again, she agrees. Leaving her, Alexey faces his brother. Nikolka goes to the Nai Tours, especially to his sister. The Turbins now have a common meal with Myshlaevsky, Karasem and Shervinsky. In the midst of dinner Vasilisa comes (without money he became prettier, according to Nikolka), brings a letter to Elena. From it, the reader learns that she divorced her husband. Alexey goes after his sister and demands to forget the bastard husband and get rid of his photo.
Chapter 20. Petlyura left as if he were not there, but that did not mean that calm had arrived. The Bolsheviks were approaching. At that time, Rusakov was reading the Apocalypse, which spoke of the Last Judgment, and it became easier for him. And the child in the house next to Turbin had wonderful dreams with the stars. Everything passes, but these stars remain.