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ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: Russian Literature / Psychological Fiction / Classic

Book Review:
Meet Pechorin, one of the most fascinating and infuriating characters in all of literature. He's handsome, intelligent, and magnetic, and he leaves a trail of broken hearts and shattered lives everywhere he goes. He's the original ''superfluous man,'' a product of his time—bored, cynical, and utterly unable to find any meaning in life. Lermontov doesn't just tell us about him; he reveals him through a series of brilliantly structured stories, each one showing us a different facet of his character. We see him through the eyes of others, and finally through his own journals, which are both revealing and chilling. It's a profound exploration of alienation and the destructive power of a life without purpose. The settings in the Caucasus are vividly drawn, and the stories are gripping and full of adventure. This new translation is excellent, and Neil LaBute's foreword is a great addition. A masterpiece of Russian literature that feels startlingly modern. Essential reading.