HERO OF OUR TIME by Mikhail Lermontov (ONEWORLD CLASSICS)

Traveling through the wilds of the Caucasian Mountains, a young man makes the acquaintance of Maxim Maximych, an experienced soldier and veritable raconteur. As they take refuge from the harsh wintry conditions, Maximych begins to tell the scandalous history of his one-time companion Pechorin, a self-confessed rake. Talented and highly intelligent, Pechorin is nevertheless weary of the world and all it has to offer. Cynical in the extreme, he can muster no other motivation than the avoidance of boredom. To this end, he embarks upon a series of Byronic exploits. Whether kidnapping the daughter of a local chieftain, organizing a smuggling ring, fighting duels, toying with fate, or capturing the hearts of beautiful society women, he remains entirely immune from any depth of emotion. This inspired study of a man and a society in crisis reveals the archetypal antihero not only of the Russian novel but of world literature.