Heart of a Dog

Outstanding surgeon Professor Preobrazhensky, with the support and direct participation of his faithful assistant, Dr. Bormental, performs a unique operation to transplant a human’s pituitary gland and testicles into a homeless dog, Sharik. The result is astounding: the dog begins to take on a human appearance, but along with that, the donor’s—Klima Chugunkin’s—cruel traits of character also come to the surface.

The novella “Heart of a Dog,” with the subtitle “A Monstrous Tale,” was intended for the almanac “Nedra,” where “Diabol(i)ad” and “Fatal Eggs” had previously been published. “Nedra” editor N.S. Angarsky was pressing Bulгakov to create “Heart of a Dog,” expecting it to achieve no less success than “Fatal Eggs.” But, unfortunately, during Bulgakov’s lifetime, the novella was never published.