A Hero of our time Author:lermontov This is the only novel Lermontov finished. It explores the relationship between a self-willed individual-the Byronic Pechorin-and conventional society. Pechorin's ruthless love adventures are described ina liquid, poetic style but with cool realism and ironic detachment. The strong auto biographical elements in the novel were tragically empha... more »sized when Lermontov was killed in a duel under exactly the same conditions from wihich his "hero" had emerged triumphant.« less