Russian Russian writer and artist Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov (1814-1841) was a key figure in Russian literature. Lermontov lived in an era of social unrest, and this is clearly expressed in his work. The idea for the "Hero of Our Time" was born in 1838 during the writer's exile to the Caucasus. "The Hero of Our Time" (1840) is the first lyrical and psychological novel in Russian literature. It describes the events from the life in the Caucasus of a young officer with an ardent temper, Grigory Alexandrovich Pechorin. The main character is a collective image of an "extra person". In Pechorin, Lermontov reflected the struggle of human vices with freedom of thought, firm character and kindliness. There are 5 parts in the novel: "Bela", "Maxim Maksimych", "Taman", "Princess Mary", "Fatalist". Their chronological order is intentionally violated by the author in order to emphasize the character and moral values of the characters. The work is unique in that it combines various genres: travelogue, short story, short story. The book also includes the play "Masquerade" (1832) about the St. Petersburg society of the early 1830s.