A Hero of Our Time (Penguin Classics)

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 (1/3 people found this helpful)

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.

my favourite book (4/10 people found this helpful)

This is my favourite book. I first read it when I was heli-skiing in the Caucasus. The book works a bit like a Tarantino film, the non-chronological order of the stories helps develope the characters. Add to this each chapter is told from a different character's perspective, gradually approaching the hero, Pechorin. You can see that this 'cleverness' could easily become awkward or confusing. But it never does. I have known a few Russian girls, and they often agree that this book is a favourite.

A superb story (11/15 people found this helpful)

a hero of our time is one of the memorable stories I have ever read and it still haunts me with its beauty. In a Quixotic Lermontov effortlessly takes the reader through the beauty of the Caucasian mountains wrapped up with the richness of Pechorin's experiences who is a young officer, an idealist turned cynic. It has been close to a decade since I last read this book, yet it continues to top the list of my favourite books.In a way everybody can relate to this book.UNION MOUJIK, DON QUIXOTE, WAR AND PEACE also feature among the top titles in my list.

Lermontov - my childhood hero (16/19 people found this helpful)

As a Russian reader and eternal admirer of Lermontov's genius, I would like to clarify for English readers the title of the book. "Hero" of our time is a "character" of our time, in Russian language we use word "hero" to say "character in the book" (in this case it would certainly mean "main character") or "subject of the conversation". I would not want some readers (a review here above) to get confused on technicality and dismiss some of the brilliance of this novel. Besides, Pechorin might as well be the hero ... of his own time and our heart... somehow we end up drawn to his tragedy and go back to the novel over and over again. Or may be the tragedy of his time?! Was it not about Pechorin after all?! I only wish Lermontov's poems could be brought to an English reader in all their very Russian "beauty", I have yet to see any translation...

A Hero of Our Time (Penguin Classics)

Mikhail Lermontov

Reader Reviews:

A pleasure to read (0/0 people found this helpful)

Mostly low key, but a dramatic last 40 pages (1/3 people found this helpful)

my favourite book (4/10 people found this helpful)

A superb story (11/15 people found this helpful)

Lermontov - my childhood hero (16/19 people found this helpful)

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