A Hero of Our Time

A Hero of Our Time harkens back to the tales of Sir Walter Scott and Lord Byron, which were popular among Russians in the 1820s and '30s, with their abductions, duels, and sexual intrigues. Lermontov's story, in the character of its protagonist, Pechorin, the quintessential Russian antihero, looks ahead to the following grandeur and passion of Russian literature, which it contributed to making possible in large part.

The novel revolves around Pechorin, a character who contradicts, but complements, Pushkin's Eugene Onegin – he, too, is dandy, but a dark, Byronic one and his life story is tragic and twisted. The storyline of the work is non-linear, which adds to the drama. The novel provides a fascinating description of the lives of Russian officers in the Caucasus, as well as a riveting narrative about Russian noblemen's handling of honor and relationships with women. It is written in a distinct, ageless tone that has stayed with the reader to this day.

Detailed information:
Author: Mikhail Lermontov
Link to read: goodreads.com/book/show/226378.A_Hero_of_Our_Time