50 pages • 1 hour read
A Hero Of Our Time
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Book Brief
185
Novel • Fiction
Caucasus, Russia • 1830s
1838
Adult
16+ years
Super Short Summary
A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov follows the experiences of Grigori Aleksandrovich Pechorin, an intelligent but disenchanted soldier navigating personal and social conflicts in the Russian Caucasus, illustrating the “superfluous man” trope through a series of interconnected stories recounted by different narrators including Pechorin himself in "Bela the Heart of a Russian," "Maksim Maksimych," "Taman," "Princess Mary," and "The Fatalist." Contains biased descriptions of women and people of the Caucasus.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Dark
Reviews & Readership
60,633 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov is lauded for its deep psychological insight and the complex, flawed character of Pechorin. Reviews highlight its pioneering narrative structure and rich, evocative prose. Criticisms include dense passages and moral ambiguity that might alienate some readers. Nonetheless, its literary significance and innovative style remain widely respected.
Who Should Read A Hero Of Our Time?
A reader who enjoys A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov is likely fascinated by complex, introspective characters and philosophical inquiries into human nature. Fans of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground or Tolstoy's Anna Karenina will appreciate Lermontov's exploration of existential themes and societal critique.
60,633 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Maksim Maksimych
Maksim Maksimych
A 50-year-old officer, friendly yet formal with the narrator, who serves as a guide and connects the narrator with Pechorin through his stories.
Grigori Aleksandrovich Pechorin
Grigori Aleksandrovich Pechorin
A young, enigmatic officer in the Russian army, central to the narrative, whose diaries are published by the narrator after his death.
Grushnitski
Grushnitski
A dark-featured, Romantic young cadet and acquaintance of Pechorin, noted for his melodramatic sentiments and involvement in a love triangle.
Princess Mary Ligovski
Princess Mary Ligovski
A young, beautiful woman at the center of Pechorin and Grushnitski's romantic rivalry, whose emotions Pechorin manipulates.
Vera
Vera
Pechorin’s former lover, reencountered during the story, who understands his contradictory nature and is connected to a subplot of concealment and deception.
185
Novel • Fiction
Caucasus, Russia • 1830s
1838
Adult
16+ years
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