Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov stands as a towering figure in Russian literature, often called "the poet of the Caucasus." Following Alexander Pushkin, Lermontov's Romantic verse and prose profoundly shaped later literary currents. His works explore themes of fate and dramatic confrontation, perhaps foreshadowing his own tragically premature end. The enduring impact of his unique voice continues to resonate in modern literary traditions.
In five linked episodes, Lermontov builds up the portrait of a man caught up in and expressing the sickness of his times. A marvelous novel and an early landmark in Russian literature, A Hero of Our Time served as an inspiration for many later Russian authors, including Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky.