The First Narrator

The First Narrator, the “I” of the novel, who is supposedly the author himself. On a trip, he meets Maksim Maksimich (the second narrator), who tells him of his friendship with Grigoriy Aleksandrovich Pechorin (the third narrator). The first narrator comes into possession of Pechorin’s journal and, on the diarist’s death, publishes from it three tales just as they were written.

Maksim Maksimich

Maksim Maksimich (mahk-SIHM mah-SIHM-ihch), the second narrator. He tells to the first narrator the story of his friendship with Grigoriy Aleksandrovich Pechorin (the third narrator). Later, scorned by Pechorin, he angrily throws away his friend’s diary, which he had been saving, and the journal falls into the hands of the first narrator.

Grigoriy Aleksandrovich Pechorin

Grigoriy Aleksandrovich Pechorin (grih-GOH-rihy ah-lehk-SAHN-dro-vihch peh-CHOH-rihn), the third narrator, the “Hero of Our Time.” A companion of Maksim Maksimich at a frontier post in the Caucasus, he later scorns his old friend, who throws away his journal. The diary is rescued by the first narrator, who publishes excerpts from it, thus making Pechorin the third narrator in the novel.

Bela

Bela (BEH-luh), a beautiful princess,

Azamat

Azamat (ah-zah-MAHT), Bela’s younger brother, and

Kazbich

Kazbich (kahz-BIHCH), a bandit, three characters in Maksim Maksimich’s tale of his friendship with Grigoriy Aleksandrovich Pechorin.

Yanko

Yanko (YAHN-ko), a smuggler. He is a character in the first tale from the journal of Grigoriy Aleksandrovich Pechorin.

Princess Mary

Princess Mary, the daughter of Princess Ligovskoy,

Grushnitski

Grushnitski (groosh-NIHTS-kihy), Princess Mary’s suitor, and

Vera

Vera (VEE-ruh), a former sweetheart of Grigoriy Aleksandrovich Pechorin, three characters from the second tale of Pechorin’s journal.

Lieutenant Vulich

Lieutenant Vulich (VOO-lihch), a Cossack officer in the third tale from the journal of Grigoriy Aleksandrovich Pechorin.