A Hero of Our Time

A Hero of Our Time is an example of the superfluous man novel noted for its compelling Byronic hero (or antihero) Pechorin and for the beautiful descriptions of the Caucasus. According to the Byronic tradition Pechorin is a character of contradiction. He is both sensitive and cynical. He is possessed of extreme arrogance yet has a deep insight into his own character and epitomizes the melancholy of the romantic hero who broods on the futility of existence and the certainty of death. The novel has influenced the likes of famous authors like Albert Camus and Ian Fleming and is a beloved Russian classic.