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A Hero of Our Time (Xist Classics) Kindle Edition

by Mikhail Lermontov (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 199 ratings
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A Novel About Oppositess

“In the first place, [his eyes] never laughed when he laughed. Have you ever noticed this peculiarity some people have? It is either the sign of an evil nature or of a profound and lasting sorrow.” - Mikhail Lermontov, A Hero of Our Time

‘The Hero of Our Time’, Grigory Alexandrovich Pechorin is actually a traditional antihero who destroys the life of others around him. He is a 19th-century Casanova who can’t find peace and happiness, often contemplating on the meaning of life and destiny. His story is seen through many eyes: a fellow brother-in-arms, the narrator and ultimately Pechorin himself. How will he end up: as a misunderstood hero or as a vile villain?


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Previous page
  1. Print length
    232 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Xist Classics
  5. Publication date
    September 4, 2015
  6. File size
    1066 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov (1814 1841), a Russian Romantic writer, poet and painter, sometimes called "the poet of the Caucasus", was the most important Russian poet after Alexander Pushkin's death. His influence on later Russian literature is still felt in modern times, not only through his poetry, but also by his prose. His poetry remains popular in Chechnya, Dagestan, and beyond Russia. Mikhail Lermontov was a poet by genius, a romantic at heart, yet by the time of his death at 26, he had already become something of a disillusioned realist. This tension between streaks in his personality is expressed openly in "A Hero of Our Time": the novel starts out as a romantic adventure beautified with most exquisite imagery, but is later transformed into a disquieting tale of manipulation and dark deeds. The setting for this novel (which is really a loosely connected string of short stories) is the wild Caucasian mountains, to which Lermontov himself had been "exiled" to fight against the fierce Chechens. After the death of Pushkin, Lermontov took it upon himself to keep the great poet's legacy alive. The authorities did not take kindly to Lermontov's endeavour, and transferred the young officer to the war zone. To 19th centrury Russian writers, the experience of the Caucasus and of 'Asiatics' in general was of tremendous value as a gauge of the value of Russian civilization. Juxtaposing Russian high society with the people of the steppes and the mountains became a familiar device in Russian literature, just like American Indians were used to symbolize the natural/unadulterated or the uncivilized/savage in American literature. However, in "A Hero of Our Time" the officer Pechorin transcends the boundaries between culture and nature. In the early chapters of the book, Pechorin's adventures are described from outside, and seem extraordinary, bizarre, yet captivating. Later on, other stories are recounted in Pechorin's diary, and they draw a different picture of the modern hero: disillusioned, hateful, and profoundly unhappy. Life is a game which he has long mastered, he knows exactly how to play into people's pride, vanity and passion. Yet, at unlikely moments, a stir of long-forgotten emotion briefly produces a vulnerable, human hero with whom we, despite ourselves, are forced to identify...

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B014X28PRU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Xist Classics (September 4, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 4, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1066 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 232 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 199 ratings

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
199 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Drift in Progress
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my new favorite pieces of Russian Literature.
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2016
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I love books set in this time period (War and Peace is one of my favorite books) and this book lived up to my expectations. I loved the characters, the drama, and of course, the romanticism of this period, which the author laid out beautifully. Perchorin is the ultimate playboy, officer, aloof man of stature that everyone thinks of when they think of this period, and he does it so well throughout the book. The first 40-50 pages are not the world's greatest, but trust me, it's worth sinking your teeth into if you like the kind of upper-crust military types and the drama of their social circles.
4 people found this helpful
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Sasha
4.0 out of 5 stars Russia delivers again, and it's free
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2013
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The novel is great, not my favorite russian classic but certainly on the list of greats. The translation quality was good and as a shorter novel it is especially well suited for kindle. I read most of it on my small cellphone screen without trouble. This book is also great material for a literature course, especially in regard to the format of novels, as it takes an unorthodox approach with several different narrators and a lack of chronological continuity. Recommended for anyone who likes Russia, the Caucuses region, or just a great read on a rainy day.
2 people found this helpful
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Ramirez
5.0 out of 5 stars A great story.
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016
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Definitely a good read, and for the price of absolutely nothing on the Kindle, a good value as well. I bought this for a study abroad trip to Russia, where it came up in a literature class. Have fun with this one, though it might not be right for those who do not like classic literature.
2 people found this helpful
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Hope
3.0 out of 5 stars "Horse for Girl- Fair Trade, Right?"
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2015
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My running commentary as I read this book:
page 11: "Dude, your horse is awesome. I'll kidnap my sister for you if you give me the horse."
page 15: Other dude: "Horse for a girl- seems fair to me. BRB- I'm gonna steal you the horse." "Uh, is that a good idea? I mean, maybe the girl doesn't want to marry you." "Oh hush- she'll thank me later."
page 19: "Well, she's still a bit upset- IDK why, I just had her kidnapped. Ah well- I bet you in a week she'll be over it."
page 32: "Meh, I know I kidnapped her for love, but now I'm bored of her.""
page 39 : It wouldn't be a Russian tale if someone didn't die- but now I wanna hear about the guy who wears red and bows whenever people shoot at him.
page 49: "Happily the dude died so now I can publish his diary." Good riddance too- the dude was a jerk.
page 65: !!! Russian Roulette is actually played in a Russian novel!!
page 74: Why, when another language is used, is it never translated? I think the one guy just burned the other, but idk for sure because I don't know French!

In conclusion: I enjoyed this book. The first section was so ridiculous it was highly amusing, but the sections with the "hero's" diary was interesting and painted him in a more sympathetic light. And there's a kidnapping, a duel, and adultery- who says 19th century classics are dull!
2 people found this helpful
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LastGas
4.0 out of 5 stars Classic of Russian Literature
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2013
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You can view this as a travelogue of the Russian mountains and people, or you can read it as a novel about a man who is bored with life.

The "hero" is a well-to-do man who is bored with life and joins the army as an officer on the frontier in hopes that the danger will give him some excitement. Even bullets whizzing by his head became boring. The tragedy is that his thoughtless interactions with others lead to their ruin.

This is an important work of Russian literature, and of world literature.
8 people found this helpful
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lyctc
5.0 out of 5 stars Why are some Apples bad?
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2013
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Like other Russian novels, A Hero of Our Time was not afraid to integrate philosophical ideas with the story line. The main character has significant character flaws, which he reveals and psychoanalyzes in his own diary entries.

This novel is not a good if you wish to relate with the character and want an uplifting ending. Instead, read it to understand the depths of our psyche and why we do the evil things we do. Evilness is not a condition that simply appears in "those" people. No, it manifests itself in how we see ourselves and how we see each other. A Hero of Our Times explores evil in a realistic light and colors and reshapes our simplistic caricatures of evil.
10 people found this helpful
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mike rioual
5.0 out of 5 stars Ageless. Some stories can flow over time. This is one.
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2020
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I liked the geographical and period aspect. When one looks at the author's life it is oddly a weird autobiography. Translated through the characters.
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Rufus T. Firefly
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2016
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I just like Russian literature in the winter. This was as good as any, and not as long as War & Peace or Crime & Punishment. The story itself was well written and entertaining, but maybe not as scandalous to modern readers as it was when originally published. Not my favorite, but a good, quick Russian lit fix.
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Top reviews from other countries

David Bisset
5.0 out of 5 stars A Byronic hero
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2017
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The novel merits its reputation. Lermontov writes with extraordinary eloquence about the military and high society in th Caucasus. The supreme irony is that the dramatic climax is a duel and that he himself died as a result of his second duel. All so Russian! The description of the mountains is quintessential romanticism.
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Regina Makhmutova
1.0 out of 5 stars bad
Reviewed in Germany on July 5, 2015
Verified Purchase
Awful! The book misses one crucial chapter, so it is not full text and has no sense. Also the design and inner font is poor. I had to return the item back to amazon.
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Favabeans
5.0 out of 5 stars good translation of a very great novel.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2018
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A good translation of a very great novel.
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cookbookcollector
2.0 out of 5 stars Wish I'd chosen a better translated version than the Xist classic one.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 3, 2018
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Xist classics: not the best translation. Translated by a group of translators whose names are not even mentioned in the kindle version.Go for a more well known publisher.
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Mr. P. G. Riddell
5.0 out of 5 stars Add to your "must read" list now !
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2014
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For lovers of Russian literature this book is a must read. I rate A Hero of Our Time as highly as Oblomov, which should be enough praise.....
One person found this helpful
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