Mikhail Lermontov

Start Free Trial

Mikhail Lermontov Criticism

Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov (1814-1841) occupies a pivotal role in Russian literature as a poet, novelist, and dramatist whose work marked the transition from Romanticism to Realism, a shift furthered by his innovative contributions. Best known for his psychological novel, A Hero of Our Time, Lermontov's oeuvre explores themes of existential despair and the Byronic hero, reflecting the influence of Byron and the Romantic tradition established by Alexander Pushkin. His nuanced character study in this novel, particularly the alienated and complex protagonist Pechorin, prefigures the psychological intricacies found in the later works of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, as discussed by Gary Rosenshield.

Contents