Yelena Bulgakova remembered 30 years later, "When he finally finished reading that night, he said: 'Well, tomorrow I am taking the novel to the publisher!' and everyone was silent", "...Everyone sat paralyzed.
30 aastat hiljem meenutas Jelena Bulgakova: "Kui ta lugemise lõpetas, ütles ta: "Homme viin käsikirja siis kirjastusele!", mille peale kõik vaikisid."