A Hero of Our Time
Mikhail Lermontov · 1814–1841 · Russia
Originally Geroy Nashego Vremeni (Russian)
Why it matters
Five interlinked tales orbiting Pechorin, a bored, brilliant nobleman who wrecks every life he touches and can't say why. Russia's first great psychological novel, and the template for every restless, purposeless 'superfluous man' who followed him.
At a glance
psychological novelshort story collection
Difficulty 4/10medium pace224 pagesNonlinear, multi-narrator structure complicates an otherwise brisk, accessible prose style.
