Elena Bulgakova is often remembered primarily as the prototype of Margarita - beautiful, mysterious, and associated with discussions of witchcraft. Art historian and cultural expert Natalia Mikhailovskaya will discuss what the real Elena Sergeyevna was like and what in her biography remains beyond the famous literary image. The lecture will cover the relationship between Elena Sergeyevna and Mikhail Bulgakov without the usual romantic flair and will explore where the dark, witch-like elements in the image of Margarita originated. Contemporary testimonies, facts, and rumors will be examined, as well as one of the most controversial versions - the possible connection of Bulgakova with the NKVD. Another topic will be the fate of the writer's manuscripts after his death. Elena Sergeyevna preserved her husband's archive and fought for years to publish his texts, despite the danger. Listeners will be able to compare the real Bulgakova with the literary Margarita and learn what role she played in preserving the writer's legacy.