Product Description

Lermontov's only novel, "A Hero of Our Time" examines a weary and cynical man trapped in the futility of his age. Published in the early nineteenth century, it was to prove a hugely influential work for many subsequent Russian writers.

Despite his obvious talents and natural abilities, Pechorin is restless and bored. Travelling from the civilised world of society drawing rooms, to the wilds of the Southern Caucasus, he embarks upon a quest for motivation and stimulation. But rather than finding the impetus he so craves, he instead becomes increasingly alienated from those around him. Sickened by the condition of his times, he chooses to reject a life of morality. This study of a man - and a society - in crisis was to become one of the most important books of its time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54760 in Books
• Published on: 2001-06-28
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

The Independent
`galloping new translation'

The Evening Standard
'A hero for our times, too, perhaps.'

Synopsis
A masterpiece of Russian prose, Lermontov's only novel was influential for many later 19th century authors, including Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Chekhov. Lermotov's hero, Pechorin, is a dangerous man, Byronic in his wasted gifts and his cynicism, and desperate for any kind of action that will stave off boredom. In five linked episodes, Lermontov builds up a portrait of a man caught in and expressing the sickness of his times.

Customer Reviews

A pleasure to read
Having bought this book mainly as something to read while travelling I found it to be not only a wonderful read but a gold mine of information.

The book is not simply a translation of Lermontov's "A hero of our time" But also includes a biography of Lermontov with corresponding time like to historical events and notable poets and writers of the time, a large and detailed introduction to the novel and also well written comprehensive notes to the text which included geographical place names, explanations of words both Russian and Turkish that are used throughout and some commentary on the text.

Not being a native speaker of Russian I am in no position to comment on the quality of the translation but in the introduction to the text the translator comments on some of the poor translations that have come before him and also that some translators have either only partially translated the text or have elaborated on the text believing that by doing so it would become more readable to the English speaking audience. Our translator however, seems to be of the opinion that he is faithful to the original Russian.

The novel itself consists of 5 stories centred around the north Caucuses where Russian troops were stationed while fighting the mountain Circassian and Chechen people in the 19th Century. The novel revolves around a young officer who on arriving meets up with a senior officer who having spent several years in the Caucuses has a fair few stories to tell and begins to narrate one of a young man who fell in love with a young Circassian girl and its tragic end. It seems clear that the senior man has a great deal of admiration for the junior officer and on meeting him again is disappointed at being given the cold shoulder. The younger officer does however, leave behind a collection of his journals that make up the last 3 stories of the novel.

Is is a wonderful short novel evoking the likes of Tolstoy and Pushkin in its tragedy. The main character is something of a reflection of Lermontov himself.

Mostly low key, but a dramatic last 40 pages
Much of this short novel was quite amusing but pretty unremarkable, but it stepped up a gear or two during the duel scene at the end of the Princess Mary section, uncannily predictive of Lermontov's fate a year or two later, and in the final The Fatalist section. Still not sure that this is quite the all time classic of Russian literature it's held to be, more significant simply for being the first real Russian novel.

Warning: Misinformation on this Edition.
As the publisher of this translation, which was newly commissioned by Hesperus Press in 2004, and is in fact by Hugh Aplin, not Marian Schwartz (as stated in S.C.T. Forrester's review), I would warn customers that the reviews below, and indeed the Search Inside facility which is available on this page, are not referring to the edition published by us.

The rating above is provided only because Amazon requires a star rating, please do not consider it a valid measure of the quality of our product.

Hesperus Press