Mikhail Lermontov

Mikhail Lermontov (1814–1841) was a Russian Romantic poet and novelist, widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in Russian literature. Born in Moscow, he showed a prodigious literary talent from an early age, drawing comparisons to his contemporary Alexander Pushkin. His masterpiece, "A Hero of Our Time," published in 1840, is considered the first psychological novel in Russian literature, introducing the iconic anti-hero Pechorin. Lermontov also served as a military officer in the Caucasus, a landscape that deeply influenced his writing. His life was tragically cut short at twenty-six when he was killed in a duel.